Redemption is a 2020 psychological thriller from veteran short filmmaker and first-time feature length director Uttam Mukherjee. Whilst easy to put the ambitious and audacious project in the "psychological thriller" box the film is definitely painted with more than one brush and refreshingly Mukherjee's influences can be felt throughout the film in a way that feels inspired and an enriching homage rather than recycled or re-treaded material.
Redemption centers around lead character Zoya played by local actress Shezly who in the search of reprieve from her overbearing father (and without giving away too much) ends up entangled with the characters Liam and Conan both played by UK born Ben Hamilton (somewhat echoing Jeremy Irons in David Cronenberg's classic "Dead Ringers") in an ambiguous and seemingly unhealthy relationship that also brings the boys elderly and mysteriously aloof off-screen father into play and sets events in motion that will have considerable consequences for all involved.
Mukherjee under the auspices of those who came before him, namely his personal biggest influence Alfred Hitchcock has delivered a bold and unique film here that elicits and maintains interest from the first scene. The cinematography from renowned Aussie DP Derek Abel is one of the films numerous highlights - with the subterranean basement/cellar scenes at times evoking a gothic chamber-piece atmosphere not too unlike that created by the late, great Jonathan Demme for the prison/asylum scenes in 1991's Silence of the Lambs and the unpredictable intricacies of the plot and it's development hark back the viewer to the twists and turns of an early Brian De Palma's work. The score is also to be noted - Mukherjee with the assistance of the internet and todays technology was able to connect with first time collaborator Carlo Tosini (hailing from a small town in Italy) who served as music director for the piece and contributed invaluably to the films mood and atmosphere.
While this is Mukherjee's first feature film - you can tell this is a passionate and experienced short film director in control of his craft and Redemption looks to be a successful first foray into the feature length world, nothing in the film feels like it happens by accident or is a cheap resolution or cop-out. Ideas proposed at the beginning of the film are delivered upon by its conclusion and loose ends are few and far between. Tightly and efficiently directed from start to finish, beautifully shot, cunningly plotted and with solid craft in all other areas - Redemption is one of the more interesting and higher quality debut films I've seen this year and definitely the most creative with regards to budgetary and circumstantial constraints.
