Experiencing Interruptions?

The Tide Turns

"I want to build a house like no one in the village has ever seen. Entirely made of glass!"
Ranjit dreams out loud. His friend Shyam, the only one in the area who finished high school and even graduated college, lowers his eyes. His dream is more modest - to get a decent job.

But both of them are stuck in the salt desert of the Rann of Kutch, the vast white plain between India and Pakistan. Here, the Agariyas, salt harvesters, are trapped in an endless cycle: for eight scorching months, they work barefoot in saline flats to pay rent on land they don't own. Then the monsoon comes, flooding everything, leaving them with nothing.

For generations, their labor meant survival. But now, in a world moving faster, manual work has turned into a curse. And those without education are too afraid to leave what they know.

Shyam believes it’s time to break the chain. He wants to help Ranjit start over somewhere new.

But once they leave the village, everything changes. Their dreams pull them in different directions. What once united them now becomes the source of mistrust, exhaustion, and betrayal.

  • Igor Virabov
    Director
  • Igor Virabov
    Writer
  • Ivan Oganesov
    Writer
  • Evgeny Shmelev
    Producer
  • Artur Panchenko
    Producer
  • David Kocharov
    Producer
  • Andrey Tereshok
    Producer
  • Andrey Begunov
    Producer
  • Ekaterina Ururu
    Producer
  • Ivan Oganesov
    Producer
  • Shyam Gadhavi
    Producer
  • Ekaterina Vulfovich
    Producer
  • Ranjit Salani
    Key Cast
  • Shyam Maru
    Key Cast
  • Evgeny Disterlo
    DOP
  • Anton Bulle
    Music by
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Отлив
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 1 minute
  • Completion Date:
    January 1, 2025
  • Country of Origin:
    India, Russian Federation
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    Gujarati, Hindi
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Igor Virabov

Documentary filmmaker with a background in international expedition journalism. Having filmed in over 80 countries, mostly focusing on wildlife and remote communities, he developed a strong interest in stories that cross borders, both geographical and emotional.

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Director Statement

A testament to young people around the world who are forced to fight every day for their right to dream. In these two boys, I saw the reflection of a universal story: the struggle of a generation trying to shape its future while going against the wind, often alone.

Ranjit dreams of building his own house, simple, but out of reach. And that dream is shared by millions today. For many young people around the world, owning a home and finding financial security feels impossible. This film is about that quiet frustration and the hope that still refuses to disappear.

This film would not have been possible without my dear friend Shyam Gadhvi.
For five years, we visited families across the salt flats before the camera ever rolled. I watched Ranjit and Shyam grow up, holding onto dreams of another life.
Behind the scenes, I witnessed a rare and deeply moving friendship, a quiet light that still lives within the film.