Main Navigation

The Pool

The Pool

Directed by Chris Smith

Documentarian Chris Smith’s (AMERICAN MOVIE, THE YES MEN) foray into narrative storytelling is the India-set Hindi-spoken THE POOL, following Venkatesh, a young janitor. He sees from his perch in a mango tree a luxuriant garden and shimmering pool hidden behind a wall. Not content to simply dream about a different life, Venkatesh is inquisitive about the home's inhabitants — indeed, about the world around him — and his curiosity changes the shape of his future. Filmed with non-professional actors, in a language he didn’t speak, filmmaker Chris Smith developed an on the fly style for the film – directing through a translator, editing the film together in real time and developing new scenes to compliment what was organically developing daily. The spontaneity and energy shows on-screen in actors, atmosphere and style. The film is a treat.

A hotel worker in India sees a luxuriant garden and shimmering pool from his perch in a mango tree. The hotel worker is inquisitive about the home's inhabitants and his curiosity changes the shape of his future. Directed by Chris Smith.

Cast: Nana Patekar, Venkatesh Chavan, Jhangir Badshah