Second Chance movie review: A tranquil healing experience

Film: Second Chance
Cast: Dheera Johnson, Rajesh Kumar, Thakra Devi, Kanav Thakur, Ganga Ram, Shaurya Bastola, Tarini Sud, Dr Bishan Dass Shashni, Yuki the cat.
Director: Subhadra Mahajan
Rating: 3.5/5
Runtime: 104 min

Writer-director Subhadra Mahajan`s gorgeous looking debut is set high up in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, in the dead of winter when deep snowdrifts and jagged ridges form an impenetrable icy barrier. Despite it being the dead of winter, the chilly climes become the basis for warmer vibes.

Twenty-five-year-old Nia (Dheera Johnson) from Delhi, feeling lonely and depressed after being pregnant and abandoned by her boyfriend, takes refuge in her family’s summer home in the Pir Panjal mountain range, with only the caretaker Raju (Rajesh Kumar) and his family for company. Nia is obviously wanting to keep the abortion hidden from her parents. When Raju gets busy Nia is left in the care of his 70-year-old mother-in-law, Bhemi (non-professional debutante Thakra Devi), and his boisterous 8-year-old son Sunny (Kanav Thakur).

Initially the relationship between Nia and Bhemi is governed by class. Bhemi is serville while Nia is reserved and confined to herself. Gradually as the climate around them begins to thaw, Nia, Bhemi and Sunny get closer. Grandmother and grandson, used to the hardships of life and happy despite it, help Nia cope with her grief and loss. The icily beautiful region, pristine serenity of the surroundings and its hardship enduring endearing people and a cat have a healing effect on Nia.  

Nia practices dance, meets up with an old boyfriend whom she hasn’t seen in ten years, goes to a party with young locals and partakes in locally available drugs.

The narrative is slow and absorbing allowing the viewer to imbibe the beauty of the place and its climes. The rural folk are portrayed in a gentle, dignified manner and their general routine lull us into the quite otherworldly charm of life in the mountains.

Elderly shepherd (Ganga Ram) laments about irresponsible behavior towards the environment and indulges in a gentle flirtation with Bhemi.

Bhemi, who spends her days working tirelessly, also has a tragic backstory.

DP Swapnil Suhas Sonawane’s black and white cinematography is beautiful and awe-inspiring. When Mahajan cuts from an audio of an anguished voicemail to Nia gazing out over mountain crags rising up from a frozen valley basin, it’s a breathtaking contrast that hits you. Mahajan’s screenplay doesn’t dwell on Nia’s trauma, instead we get budding, tender, humourous progress of her relationships with Bhemi and Sunny.

“Second Chance” is about developing connections with nature and simple people living simpler but by no means easy, lives. It’s also about getting in touch with yourself, away from the chaos of the city. Up in the mountains, the vast, harsh but beautiful landscape enables an introspection that revives and heals Nia.

This is a quiet, contemplative slice-of-life story that transports you to a tranquil place and gives you the space and the quiet to ruminate about your own life while imbibing the values and culture exemplified in the movie.

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