The Pool
Directed by: Chris Smith
Written by: Chris Smith and Randy Russell
Starring: Venkatesh Chavan, Ayesha Mohan, Nana Patekar, Jhangir Badshah

When I heard that director Chris Smith’s latest movie was due to hit theatres soon, I was looking forward to another strange but true documentary along the lines of American Movie, Home Movie and The Yes Men, all of which I enjoyed a great deal. To my surprise, however, his next film turned out to be something completely different. Not only does The Pool mark Smith’s first foray into the world of dramatic fictional filmmaking, it was also shot on location in India — in a language that Smith does not speak.

The Pool first played at Sundance back in 2007, and it has taken over two years to reach Canadian theatres. Considering the fact that the film made a number of critics’ lists for Best Movies of 2008, you’d think there would be a lot more buzz surrounding it. However, now that Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire has given mainstream audiences a new fascination with Indian culture, perhaps it will open some doors for The Pool. From here on in I fully expect to hear a lot of comparisons between the two, despite the fact that The Pool was actually shot first, and despite the fact that they are wildly different films.

The story is a rather simple one, and it was initially conceived by Randy Russell, the star of Chris Smith’s first movie American Job. Together they took a rough draft to India and decided to let the film evolve during the shoot. Venkatesh (Venkatesh Chavan) is a young man working at a hotel in Panjim that is situated next door to the home of a wealthy family. He becomes fascinated by the swimming pool in their backyard, vowing that one day he will swim in the cool waters. After offering his services to the man who lives next door (played by Bollywood star Nana Patekar), he learns how to tend to his garden and becomes smitten with his rebellious daughter (Ayesha Mohan). Eventually an opportunity presents itself and Venkatesh is forced to make a difficult decision about his future.

Smith’s experience as a documentary filmmaker still manages shine through as the movie is shot in a very straightforward, almost verite style. The strength of the film comes in the beauty of the surroundings and the realism of the performances, which is partially a side effect of the fact that Smith did not speak Hindi and could not give the actors detailed directions. In addition, both Venkatesh Chavan and Jhangir Badshah were local non-actors that Smith cast in the film (supposedly, Venkatesh even thought the movie was actually a documentary).

The Pool is fairly slow-paced but filled with some endearing humour, particularly in the interactions between Venkatesh and Jhangir. While there are a couple of small plot twists, there is nothing overly drastic or shocking about where the story goes… and that’s okay. The movie is refreshing in its lack of flashiness, but like Slumdog Millionaire it is ultimately optimistic and uplifting. This is another coming of age story, one that celebrates the bonds between family and friends and indirectly explores class differences as well.

While I didn’t quite find The Pool to be the masterpiece that some critics have called it, I still had a great time watching it. Certainly, the vibrancy and cultural differences of India add a layer of interest for North American viewers, while fans of Bollywood will be pleased to see some familiar faces. I can only hope this movie will eventually get a decent DVD release, but until then, keep an eye out at your local art house theatre. As for Chris Smith, this could be the start of an exciting new chapter in his career. While I love his documentary work, it’s great to see a filmmaker try something so different and risky and succeed admirably nonetheless. I can’t wait to see what his next project will bring. — Sean

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