Strays: A Soulful Portrayal Of Companionship & More

Director/Editor Or Schraiber’s 12:48-minute Strays is a character study, a symbolic narrative of human connection, loneliness and the pangs of wanting to belong. Set in Coney Island, the story follows the life of a Pakistani immigrant, working as an Uber driver. The vast emptiness of his life juxtaposed with the vibrant life of NY and the diverse customers his taxi plies around with forms the essence of Shamsul’s (James Rana) life. And, to fill the emptiness comes along Stewart–a furry black cat. Sounds simple, but Schraiber masterfully presents a silent short filled with laughter, warmth and an aching emptiness that is only oddly assuaged with beautiful music and cinematography. 

Written by James Rana who also plays Shamsul, Strays is evenly paced, dramatic and moving. The film opens to the near empty apartment of Shamsul. His makeshift bedspread, the tattered state of his pillow case isn’t lost on the keen eye. This is a man living hand to mouth, and yet, the sole phone call and its conversation becomes the leitmotif in the film. 

Cinematographer Adam Baron-Bloch gets a lot to play with. He captures the vacantness of Shamsul’s apartment, the forlorn look it bears, the desolate streets outside. And, combined with the colourful nights of the NY city, Baron-Bloch paints a picture of dichotomy between the character and his surroundings. It’s intelligent, textured and evocative. Add to that the music used and production design created; it makes Strays highly engaging.

Think of Charlie Chaplin, and you’ll resonate with Shamsul. His mannerisms, the idiosyncrasies, makes him both adorable and pitiful. There’s an unmistakable vulnerability in his eyes that Rana captures exceptionally well. The plight of an immigrant, torn apart from his family, his loneliness, the yawning chasm of emptiness is very well emulated. So well is the portrayal that when he breaks into a dance, one can’t help but smile along. It’s charming, emotional and universal. Stewart (trained by Amanda Brook) is as arresting as Rana. The playful cat-&-mouse chase between the two, although very understated, is very well executed. It brings the necessary humour, reminiscent of Jacques Tati and Buster Keaton.

Besides the evidently good acting and direction, the film is very complimented with the use of foley sound effects. It raises the pulse of the film, an otherwise silent one. Strays could have easily turned into a tragedy, but thanks to Schraiber and Rana, it banks on its well written script. The loneliness is not highlighted in dramatic monologues, but through mindful interjections, like the moments Shamsul shares with some of his passengers. Or the moment he breaks into a dance. As he reluctantly welcomes Stewart into his life, one begins to wonder who needed the company more? Who is truly the strayed one and/or in need of a shelter? Gentle and touching, Strays makes us think about the shared sense of displacement that both our characters experience in the film. Is it that far from reality–our existing lives? With mass migration, displacement and current state of affairs, it isn’t far-fetched to vicariously experience Shamsul’s fate. But, with Strays one can be rest assured of finding companionship in the unlikeliest of places and with the oddest of beings, even if they come in tiny packages with a lot of fur.

Very well made!

Watch Strays Short Film Trailer