User reviews

One of the many things I love about Aneel's works, is that words are never pronounced unless where specifically needed. This is important. Not only the photography is beautifully sincere and discreet (but far from weak; actually it's its strength, I may call it added value but the word "added" might sound misleading, since each film is a integer whole rather than factory pieces that add up to make a product), and the furthest away from the sterile exercises in style - a typical attitude, laziness of the mind, not new at all but today more fashionable than ever, of those who are more interested in the appealing of things than in the essence of things - of the majority of the contemporaries, but also, at the same time, his films are fully, magically (not artificial, but good magic, like the miracle that is life) and beautifully rich in sounds, and those sounds are the sounds of people talking from a distance or close, animals, nature, work, any activity that happens to be there, plus an entire, and extremely valuable, world of music, and the resulting mix is completely different from the pompous rhetoric of industrialized cinema, drowned in fanfaristic music and childish redundant special effects, expedients which on the long run end up being meaningless even to the senses.

In Aneel's films, a full and fantastic world of sounds that we, in the western world, we who are spoiled and anaesthetized by regular practice of both exploitation and blablah for 14-16 hours a day, and by the now hyped role of sound design, which often tends to sound so fake (especially in countries like mine which at the moment buys it's contemporary culture 98% from USA and doubles it with reassuring voices which by the way make all the films sound the same), a so called art which I have no fear to call almost perverse... we could - I do - feel a sense of long lost familiarity watching "boy in the tree", even if an eastern culture is so different from mine (again, apparently, since all cultures of the world share the same universal origin)... Still the sound side of the works, as this one, is a quiet force, and seems to be in a very special harmony with the deep, yet humble, feelings that are inherent to the characters and to the story. Aneel is a true poet.

I can see him - why not? - on the same level as the great Italian poet and film director Pier Paolo Pasolini, for its direct, sober way, for the focus on essential, in visual imagery at least (Pasolini would, on the other hand, sometimes reach peaks of craziness, mislanguage and cacophony on purpose, and on this the two artists are diametrically different), with a cinematographic language that is as bony, sort of emaciated perhaps (but not sick at all, furthest away from that). Even a frame picturing the feet of a man sleeping outside in the shade, becomes art, when he makes it. To have a beautifully intense look on life is a gift of this Pakistani and international film director.... This simple short film is like the purest water collected from the highest mountain.

This has to be one of the most beautiful art house short films made. Saw this at the Raindance film festival in London yesterday. A simple story beautifully filmed and really emotional. By far one of the picks of the festival.

Raindance Festival never fails in finding a few "Gems" and this certainly is one. Boy In The Tree is a must see for anyone who cares about human rights, beautiful cinematography, wonderful acting and visual story telling.

It really does tell the story of how people live in poverty yet never complain about their misfortunes. The film is all about raising up to the occasion and being counted. I was nearly in tears at the end. All i can really say is that it was a beautiful sincere film that highlights the poverty that effects so many children in the 3rd world.

A must see, it will really make you feel grateful about the life that you lead and after viewing you will appreciate what you have.

I saw this film at the Raindance Film Festival. The only Festival that truly shows great independent cinema and this short film was absolutely fantastic. Everything about it was amazing.

First of all, if you like visual cinematic, well made short films, with positive energy, genuine story telling, wonderful acting and full of real emotion then this short film is for you.

Boy in the Tree is refreshing and cinematic. This film works around the story of a boy from a poor village. He sacrifices his own life for his brother.(I don't want to include spoilers - You have to watch it) It's a wonderfully crafted short with a fully developed narrative. The cinematography and the boys performances was first class. Artistic, simple and emotional.

The locations were stunning and everything about this film, the pacing, the local surroundings was filmed to perfection.

It's a film about sacrifice and hope. With a really positive message.I really liked it and yes I did cry.

'Boy in the Tree'. This film carries the sort of extreme realism you can only associate with foreign cinema. It's realistic in the sense that the characters 'children' are involved in the scenes emotionally and the film kind of pauses to compensate the revelation of those emotions beautifully. The attention to that sort of detail frequently demands artistic labeling: love, poverty goodness, sacrifice. The lack of dialog is compensated with wonderful music, environmental sounds, stunning visual landscapes and the close ups of expressive faces. Each one of the fragments of this film is mesmerizing and of increasing beauty. A beautiful film, a breath of fresh air. A must see...

Beautiful short film. I assure you a few tears will drop.

I saw this film at the Raindance film festival on Saturday. Beautifully shot, well made and really emotional. Well done to the entire production team. The cinematography was amazing and the story not only portrayed the harsh realities of life, It was also uplifting and gives you that feeling of hope. The narrative is simple but perfectly executed. I cant get this film out of my mind and i want to view it again. Are Raindance making a compilation DVD for the festival as i would love to view it again.

This film really is a must see, I have never been to India or Asia, but this film certainly has touched my heart,it portrays the poverty that so many children live in. I personally feel it has a universal message. Hope and overcoming any obstacle in your life. It has certainly made me reflect on my life and how I live. I wish i could write more, I just want to see this film again. I am going to contact 'Raindance' and find out if they are making DVDs

Gem of a film. I just saw this film at the 10th London Short Film Festival

Where has this director been hiding? Boy In The Tree is perhaps one of the most beautiful and emotionally charged short films made. The cinematography was amazing, and it was truly one of the highlights of this years film festival. Excellent performances from the two leading actors, and it was so well made.

This short was cinema at its best and you could tell that a lot of thought, hard work and passion went into making this short. It really does make you realise how fortunate we are and I was really moved by some of the scenes.

In parts, some of the cinematography reminded me of John Fords 'The Searchers' There is so much to say about the style pacing and tempo of the film. All I would like to say it really is a must see and I am so glad I went to see this little Gem of a film

I totally agree with other reviews this short was full of fantastic images and it was poetry in motion. Well done to the director and the entire production team.

I found it very difficult to express how much I loved this movie without giving away all the wonderful scenes! Though he has the magic of creating films so realistic you'd think them documentaries, Aneel Ahmad's "Boy in the Tree" goes beyond even that. We feel WE are there with, or as the characters. We feel the dry dirt under our feet, the sense of being mischievous or resourceful. We feel pain. We feel joy. We feel victory! Aneel has captured the almost inconspicuous details of the ordinary life of a an impoverished child in the 3rd World and then displays them all as an extraordinary and most inspiring lesson for every person on earth. I am resisting the urge to say just what symbolism he uses, and the lessons he teaches, hoping that future audiences will enjoy the full range of emotion he can evoke through his artistic touch. Aneel has so masterfully brought together the background music, sounds, small and large creatures that inhabit the region, and traditions and mannerisms of the people who are a part of the boy's life that we feel strong emotions at every turn - even from watching a silhouette! The film is beautiful, but educational, too. Really, I think so much could be done with this film in such a positive way. You will fall in love with the Boy as the story progresses, but you'll also look back and say, "You had me at 'in the tree'." Like all of the greatest films, you'll also want to watch this one over and over again, too! Achieve great heights of greatness - watch this film!

I saw this film at the Africa International Film Festival. It was a beautiful short movie, with magnificent cinematography. Boy in the Tree is very moving and it has a simple visual narrative.

A story of a boy trying to make ends meet, living in poverty and from a small village.

The music was excellent, the visuals were fantastic and everyone agreed that this film certainly educated you about how people lived in countries from poor backgrounds.

A very good project if you like films that are very visual and also have a lot of emotions. The Africa festival also screened Satyajit Ray's films this year and this film certainly has all the similar hall marks. It is rare to see a short movie with so much passion by the production team. A very good project.

I just got to see this short film this weekend in FL. It was beautiful and really emotional. The story was simple and the cinematography was excellent, the music was perfect and it was the kind of film that should be seen in Schools around the world.

Educating it's audience about 'Poverty' I have not seen a lot of films made in India or from that part of the world, so for me this film was an insight about the way poor people live. The young boys performance was very good and the acting was so natural.

This is what is missing in the world, films that are made in the spirit of kindness and giving. There are so many poor people in the world who do not even get the chance to eat.

You come out feeling that you have just learned a lot about your own life as well as the life of people living in poorer countries.

Very emotional, beautiful, excellent cinematography, wonderful music, great acting, beautiful direction. A very good short movie.

I just recently watched "boy in the tree", what can I say: hats off to the director. This short film was beautifully photographed and it was emotional at times. Some of the images were beautiful and the children is the story acted sincerely. This is just one of those shorts that you remember. It's so different from other short films. Technically this film is perfect and the of the short was perfect.

Some of the scenes photography reminded me of John Fords Master piece 'The Searchers' its an amazing piece of work, a simple story told with fantastic visuals.

The film also portrayed the harsh reality that children face in Pakistan. I really loved the story, simple yet effective. You won't be disappointed watching this short film.

It was like Dario Mitidieri (Children of Bombay) meets Sergio Leone.