Against the Tide (2023 film)

Against the Tide
Poster
Directed by	Sarvnik Kaur
Written by	Sarvnik Kaur
Produced by	Koval Bhatia Sarvnik Kaur
Starring	Rakesh Koli Ganesh Nakhawa
Cinematography	Ashok Meena
Edited by	Atanas Georgiev Blagoja Nedelkovski
Music by	Igor Vasilev Novogradska
Production companies	Snooker Club Films A Little Anarky Films Les Films de l'Oeil Sauvage
Release date	20 January 2023 (2023-1-20)
Running time	97 minutes
Countries	India France
Languages	Marathi Hindi English

Against the Tide is a 2023 documentary film directed by Sarvnik Kaur. ^{[1] [2]} It is produced by Koval Bhatia and Sarvnik Kaur under the banners of Snooker Club Films, A Little Anarky Films and Les Films de l'Oeil Sauvage. ^{[3] [4]} The film got official selections at various film festivals, which include San Francisco International Film Festival 2023, Seattle International Film Festival 2023, 2023 Sundance Film Festival, Sheffield DocFest 2023, Dharamshala International Film Festival and 2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival. ^{[5] [6] [7] [8]}

Synopsis

The film details the lives of two fishermen from the Koli community of Mumbai. One fisherman, Ganesh follows modern practices and owns a crewed fishing boat, has a modern apartment, but is saddled with debt, while the other, Rakesh, follows the traditional practices of the community and lives in a modest way. The film contrasts the two men while exploring the larger currents at play in 21st century India.

Reception

Devika Girish of The New York Times opined, "Sarvnik Kaur's breathtaking documentary about indigenous fishermen in Mumbai brings to life an ecosystem wrecked by corporate greed and climate change." ^[9]

Siddhant Adlakha of IndieWire observed, "It's a film concerned with conveying blockades — both logistical and emotional — more than solutions. Therefore, it highlights its chosen issues not through grandiose, rousing statements, or calls to action born of portraying despair, but rather, as lingering, festering disappointments. No one dies, and no one cries, but at every turn, the drama skillfully builds as each man quietly accepts his circumstances, and his inability to adequately care for his wife and child (their wives may not be the central focus, but the camera often catches them at the moments they rise to meet their husbands' problems head on, whether through little jabs, moments of smiling comfort, or even much-needed challenges to their authority)." ^[10]

Accolades

Festival	Award	Result	Ref.
Gotham Independent Film Awards 2023	Best Documentary	Won
Seattle International Film Festival 2023	Documentary Competition Award	Won	[11] [12]
2023 Sundance Film Festival	Grand Jury Prize: World Cinema - Documentary	Won
	Vérité Filmmaking	Won
Sydney Film Festival 2023	Sustainable Feature Award	Won
Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2023	Best Documentary Film	Won
MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023	Golden Gateway Award: International Competition	Won	[13]
International Documentary Association Awards 2023	Best Feature Documentary	Nominated
	Best Director	Nominated
Munich International Documentary Festival 2023 (DOK.fest)	Viktor Award DOK.horizons	Nominated
Bergen International Film Festival 2023	Documentaire Extraordinaire	Nominated
Visions du Réel International Film Festival Nyon 2023	Audience Award: Grand Angle Competition	Nominated
Cinema Eye Honors Awards 2024, USA	Spotlight Award	Nominated
DocsBarcelona, ES 2023	Best Documentary: DocsBarcelona TV3 Award	Nominated

References

1. Gilbey, Ryan (Jun 26, 2023). "Against the Tide review – old ways vs the new in a study of modern Indian fisherfolk". The Guardian. Retrieved Mar 11, 2025.
2. "Against The Tide - POV". www.pbs.org. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
3. "Against the Tide". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
4. "Against the Tide". chickeneggfilms.org. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
5. "Against the Tide". catapultfilmfund.org. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
6. "Against the Tide". www.sheffdocfest.com. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
7. "AGAINST THE TIDE". diff.co.in. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
8. Navin Upadhyay. "Imphal Film Festival Unveils Diverse Lineup with 57 Films, Showcasing Manipuri Classics". powercorridors.in.
9. Girish, Devika (Nov 23, 2023). "'Against the Tide' Review: Tales of the Sea". The New York Times. Retrieved Mar 11, 2025– via NYTimes.com.
10. SIDDHANT ADLAKHA (20 January 2023). "'Against the Tide' Review: Another Excellent, Insightful Indian Documentary About Life Itself". IndieWire. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
11. "Watch Against the Tide (2023) on MUBI". mubi.com. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
12. Anurag Singh Bohra. "Sarvnik Kaur on Her Critically Acclaimed Documentary 'Against The Tide': 'Story of Arabian Sea is The Story of World'". www.india.com. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
13. "Against the Tide". mami.mumbaifilmfestival.com. Retrieved 14 March 2025.

External links

• Against the Tide at IMDb