Walks a fine line in some aspects but works and is professionally made

We are well used to documentaries showing us in the first world just how tough life in the developing countries really is, so the idea of another one is not really something to write home about. However Amar takes a slightly different approach. Presented without comment, the film simply follows the 14 year old Amar through his day – which consists of two jobs, and school. Without contribution apart from the occasional on- screen time stamp, the short film simply follows Amar.

This produces the unique effect of both seeing the bad in the situation but yet also the good in the people. Although it never takes a stand or makes a statement itself, the film cannot be criticised for this since it is clear as we watch this child working almost every hour of his day, that this situation is bad. It is a fine line though because the majority of the film is pretty upbeat, but I think it balances it well. The reason it does feel upbeat is that Amar himself is not shown throwing himself in the corner and waiting for death due to his situation; instead he puts his head down and works hard whenever he has to. Again this is a fine line situation because one does not want to take away the message that "see, it's fine, they love a bit of hard work", but for sure the spirit of Amar is encouraging.

It fits with the subtitle of the film, which is All Great Achievements Require Time, because it does offer hope that the spirit of a nation (as shown in the microcosm of Amar) will somehow work their way to a situation where 14 year old boys are not working two jobs while also trying to get an education. Technically the film looks really good with good camera movement no matter the scene and a clear image with plenty of color. It does walk a fine line in some regards but I think it works, making for a piece that doesn't shy away from the reality but shows a positive side to the individual, despite the situation. For an additional feel good factor it is worth mentioning that the director won a £1000 prize for his film and made good on his promise to give half to Amar – which is about 40,000 Rs compared to the 1,500 Rs that Amar earns.

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The documentary is a form of non-fiction storytelling that aims to present factual information, insights, and perspectives on real-world subjects, events, issues, or people. Documentaries can cover a wide range of topics, including history, science, culture, social issues, nature, biographies, and more.

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The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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Amar is 14 and top of his class. Someday he'd like to be a professional cricketer, but for now he's the family's main breadwinner, working two jobs six and a half days a week on top of attending school in the afternoons. This short observational documentary is a simple journey with Amar through his daily routine.

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Amar (All Great Achievements Require Time)

Amar

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