Pebbles

Where to watch

Trailer

Pebbles

2021

கூழாங்கல்

Directed by P. S. Vinothraj

A young boy follows his violent and alcoholic father on a quest to find his mother, who has run away from his abuse.

Cast Crew Details Genres Releases

74 mins   More at IMDb TMDB Report this page

Popular reviews

More
Michael James
Review by Michael James ★★★½ 2

So in another sense, the entire story happens so that an orphan puppy can find its new home. To see the innocent happy smile on kids face after all the rough happenings was such a hopeful and emotionally gratifying moment. The rustic landscape has been beautifully symbolized with the unsympathetic life and its profound themes. Technically it is solid, special mention should go to the sound deign. Overall, the 70 odd minute indie drama definitely intrigues with its visual storytelling and metaphors.

cinema_made
Review by cinema_made ★★★★½ Liked 1

Pebbles or as translated from Tamil as Koozhangal is an intricate showcase of rural life in a hot summer day at the barren landscapes of Southern Tamil Nadu. Its story can be summarised in a short sentence. But the film mesmerize with its visual storytelling and the silence of words. Heat plays a crucial role in the narrative. But the unbearable things more than te heat of the blazing sun is the patriarchy, poverty and violence against women and children. It's an disgraceful culture embedded commonly which I had seen and experienced it at my hometown( not for me though). And I had seen some rough summer days too.

But I haven't seen the landscapes of arid thorn covered rural…

Goran
Review by Goran ★★★★½ Liked

Even though I had planned not to review any IFFR movies, seeing all the low ratings and negative reviews Pebbles is getting so far on this app made me reconsider.
(EDIT: I’m very glad to see that the ratings are now a lot higher than they were initially!)

I suppose that, upon reading the description, the many viewers that expressed themselves negatively must have expected a father-child roadmovie in the tradition of Paper Moon. They must have been disappointed to find out this was actually a meditative work of visual poetry, commenting on poverty in rural India and, more importantly, on the victims of toxic masculinity. That what they got was not a father and son bonding in a desert, but a poor…

Karthi
Review by Karthi ★★★★½

Cinema peaked when, the boy stood watching the plane, forgetting that his father is in his back to beat him.

I love slow cinema . The picturisation of the dryness of the land , the water scarcity, suffering of a family due to alcohol addiction is just beautifully sad.

தமிழ் சினிமா காக்க வந்த வினோத் ஐயா.

az93
Review by az93 ★★★

Good to look at but languid. I'm normally a fan of simple but effective, so I might be being harsh, but this felt like a film I've seen too many times and didn't bring anything new to the table.

jack
Review by jack ★★★★★ Liked 1

I'm ready to watch it again in the theatres.

Kibriya⚡
Review by Kibriya⚡ ★★★ 5

You're good, but you're not INDIA'S SUBMISSION FOR BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM good :/

Akash Suresh
Review by Akash Suresh Liked 2

"Those who walked for Pebbles!!!"

Faces, places, sun, shadows, time, people, pebbles, family, life and still walking...Can't quite remember another Indian film from the recent past that wielded its camera to such profound effects with a brilliant sound design and entirely transfigured the notion of a Cinematic Cut...A stunning debut by P.S. Vinothraj and one of the films of the year hands down!!!

Cinetasticc
Review by Cinetasticc ★★★★½ Liked

Out of 14 films, our Jury selected this film as an official entry into Oscars 2022 yesterday. I don't really keep my expectations on the basis of award selections and nominations so I went into it with no hope of founding a masterpiece and that's usually how I watch films. After finishing this film It felt like I have experienced complete cinema for the first time. A feeling which is rare but comes with immaculate and pristine films.
It is terrific both technically and visually. The cinematography and camera work reminds me of Angelepolous's Landscape in the Mist (1988): calm, crafty and persevering. Walking has a major role in this film and its soundtrack is cleverly enclosed with the right amount of emphasis on footsteps and surroundings.
I can go on with my applauds but I won't waste your time and will advise you to watch it asap.

Anurag Sanyal
Review by Anurag Sanyal ★★½ 5

Am I missing something?? Or this is what Koozanghal is all about??

A weary drunkard father, picking his son from his school and taking a bus trip to the nearing village to bring his wife back, who supposedly left due to being beaten by her spouse. The film's aesthetically brilliant, and the way it captures the offbeat terrains of rural Tamil Nadu is praiseworthy. The sparse background score sometimes rejuvenates the on-screen chemistry of the father & son duo who walks endlessly on the desert under scorching rays of sun. At one point the whole thing becomes so monotonous like if you fast forward 10minutes you won't miss nothing.

It has to be said that the film had lots of opportunity…

Vasanthan
Review by Vasanthan ★★★★ Liked 4

Koozhangal should do to PS Vinothraj what Court did to Chaitanya Tamhane. A Precious little Indie that feels like a whiff of fresh air in its aesthetics and making. An immersive experience indeed. With films like Nasir, Baaram and now this, can say a parallel cinema movement is gradually happening in tamil cinema. Hopeful Times ❤❤

Selva
Review by Selva ★½ 1

Except the great performances and the locations they shot and the small instances where the kid revenge his father, this film is a disappointment for me.The director tried to give us the road drama with land drought problems but which is not impactful it's just ended as forty minutes of walking and twenty minutes of quarrels with bad words.

Probably Indie films are not just my cup of tea.

Mentioned by