Despite the many tragedies in the scenario (both natural and man-made), the film doesn’t beg for our sympathies. Only at the very end do we feel a twinge.
Spoilers ahead…
Almost a year ago, director Ram called me to watch a movie by a new filmmaker. I went without expecting much, but what I saw blew my mind. It was the purest “cinema” I’d seen in a long, long time – something that told its story with faces and landscapes and movement rather than through dialogue. I offered to clean up the subtitles (and they were kind enough to give me an end credit) – but this is the kind of filmmaking that doesn’t need those subtitles. It works at a visual, visceral level, and I am glad they were able to get big names on board to increase this film’s profile. “Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan present” says the producers’ credit, at the beginning. The music is by Yuvan Shankar Raja, who wisely gives us very little by way of a background score. Because the sound design is far more important. Music manipulates. Sound just is.
Read the rest of this article at the link above.
Copyright ©2021 Film Companion.
Baradwaj Rangan 
therag
September 27, 2022
Hmm, wonder what happened. Couldn’t Vignesh Shivan give even a limited release for this one?
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brangan
September 27, 2022
therag: Nope.
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therag
September 27, 2022
Did this movie release in India?
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ashwhatsfilmosophy
October 31, 2021
I could predict the last three years’ Oscar entries, but this, that too unanimously, simply great!
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Doubtful
February 9, 2021
Was available till the 6th* sorry.
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Doubtful
February 9, 2021
Did you get to see kadaisi vivasayi as well? I see it’s available to watch on the iffr website till the 21st, although only in the Netherlands.
Just asking since you mentioned it’s premiere in an earlier article.
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brangan
February 8, 2021
Haha, ini. I may take you up on that 🙂
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brangan
February 8, 2021
Almost a year ago, the attached tweet happened. I am thrilled that #PEBBLES left the Rotterdam jury stunned, too.
The FIRST Tamil film to win the Tiger award.
Congratulations, @PsVinothraj and team. This is HUGE. and may this be the beginning of many things.
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ini
February 8, 2021
Hey Congrats BR for the win! I really was impressed by the movie as well. Was talking to one organiser for the festival, who mentioned that the organising committee wants to befriend the South Indian art film market (for lack of a better term) as other festivals seem to go for the North Indian ones. Next year you better come here 🙂 I will take you to the best Chinese restaurant in Europe.
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H. Prasanna
February 6, 2021
@BR A tiny question, since you worked on the subtitles. The Tamil title translates to (A or The) Pebble. The English title is Pebbles. You talk about a stack of pebbles in the review. Was this intentional? Would we get it if we watch the movie?
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krishna prasad
February 5, 2021
Every reviewer worth his salt seems to be raving bout this movie. Hope v get to watch it on amazon r Netflix. These movies go to festivals, ppl rave bout them but is watched only by a handful. Hope this changes atleas now with umpteen options available
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ravenus1
February 5, 2021
Yeah, sounds quite intriguing. Hope this comes to an accessible streaming channel soon.
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brangan
February 5, 2021
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Yajiv
February 4, 2021
Thanks for bringing light to this. Looks really interesting. I hope this gets a release in theatres/streaming soon for the wider audience.
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