Shawn Divakar

Two brothers, Abdu and Ronny are on an ambiguous run from the police. While the younger one, Abdu is convinced their missing cult leader, Shechem is dead, Ronny disregards it. They journey on an off-beat pursuit to find their lost leader, Shechem.

My intent with this film is to explore the intersection of consequence and realization, where the mundane collides with the extraordinary. By following the parallel journeys of a girl grappling with guilt and a man unaware of his own death, I aim to provoke a sense of unease and introspection in the audience. This story is not just about life and death but about the moments in between—the ripple effects of our actions and the fragile, often unnoticed connections that define our existence.

I chose to tell Paradise Lost because it confronts a fear that feels both personal and societal: how easily violence against the vulnerable becomes invisible when it is inconvenient to acknowledge. The story emerged from observing how cases of abduction and abuse are often reduced to headlines, statistics, or passing outrage, while the emotional and moral aftermath is quietly absorbed by families and communities.