Film Archive

Shadows of Time (Schatten der Zeit)

India before independence, a carpet factory in the countryside near Calcutta. For Ravi and Masha, who are forced to work as child laborers, it is the beginning of a tragic love story. Realizing that money determines whether one is free or enslaved, the ambitious and resolute Ravi works his way up from common worker to best carpet knotter, with just one goal - to leave the factory behind him. Learning that the factory owner plans to keep Masha for himself, Ravi sacrifices all his savings to buy Masha's freedom. As she leaves, Masha promises to wait for him in Calcutta's biggest Shiva temple at every full moon. Years later, after having earned enough to buy his way out, Ravi becomes a carpet seller and rises to prosperity. Masha, who has become a sought-after dancer in a brothel, still goes to the temple hoping to find Ravi. He also visits the holy site, but fate prevents them from finding each other. Although they marry others, whose affections they return, they keep their true love for one another. When they unexpectedly meet again, they enjoy a few moments of bliss before their love threatens to destroy them. Masha is willing to abandon everything for Ravi, but once again, the lovers are separated. Time passes, casting its shadows on the old and the new, the changing and the unchanging, the never-ending cycle of love...

Defiantly romantic, emphatically emotional, this epic love story evokes the days when grand passions ruled the movies and cast their spell on ill-fated lovers and rapt audiences alike. The first full-length feature film by young OSCAR-winning writer and director Florian Gallenberger (Quiero ser), Shadows of Time was produced by OSCAR-nominee Helmut Dietl (Schtonk!) and Norbert Preuss (The Experiment).

Florian Gallenberger , born in 1972, appeared in various roles in feature films, TV productions and theater plays from the age of five. From 1992-1999, he studied Directing at the University of Television & Film in Munich (HFF/M). In 2001, he won an OSCAR for his graduation film Quiero ser (short, 2001). His other films include Shadows of Time (Schatten der Zeit, 2004) and John Rabe (2009).
 

Genre Drama
Category Feature Film Cinema
Year of Production 2004
Director Florian Gallenberger
Screenplay Florian Gallenberger
Director of Photography Juergen Juerges
Editor Hansjoerg Weissbrich
Music by Gert Wilden Jr.
Production Design Amardeep Behl
Producers Helmut Dietl, Norbert Preuss
Production Companies Diana Film/Munich, Fanes Film/Munich, in co-production with CP Medien/Ludwigsburg, Mondragon Films/Berlin
Principal Cast Prashant Narayanan, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Irrfan Kahn, Tillotama Shome
Casting Dilip Shankar
Length 122 min, 3,355 m
Format 35 mm, color, cs
Original Version Bengali
Sound Technology Dolby SR, Dolby SRD
Festival Screenings Toronto 2004 (Special Presentation), Cine Independiente Buenos Aires 2005, Kiev 2005
Awards Bavarian Film Awards 2004 (Best Feature Debut: Florian Gallenberger, Best Cinematography: Juergen Juerges)
With backing from German Federal Film Board (FFA), BKM, FilmFernsehFonds Bayern
German Distributor Constantin Film Verleih/Munich

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