Written and directed by Sandeep Mohan, Danny Goes Aum tells the story of a burned-out British film editor, Danny (Andrew Sloman), who attempts to write a screenplay, only to have it rejected, leaving his creative ambitions at a standstill. While staying in Goa, India, he searches for inspiration for a new script that he hopes to direct himself. Along the way, Danny meets two women who profoundly shape his journey. The first is Lucie (Marianne Borgo), an older widow preparing to return to France after fulfilling her late husband’s final wish to scatter his ashes in the sea. The second is a young woman known only as Indian Girl (Anjali Patil), who chooses to spend her last days of freedom alone before her wedding. Linking these two encounters is Lucie’s husband’s guitar being cast into the sea, only to be later found by an Indian Girl.
Danny Goes Aum is a mixed bag. On one hand, it offers breathtaking scenery, intriguing characters, and a thoughtful portrait of Danny’s search for inspiration during a troubled period of his life. On the downside, the performances are uneven, ranging from compelling to flat. The dialogue between Danny and the supporting characters feels stiff, almost recited. This may be less the actors’ fault than a consequence of clumsily written lines. As a result, Sloman’s performance swings between lackluster and genuinely moving, with his strongest work emerging in the film’s more emotional moments. One weakness is that Danny’s encounters with both women repeatedly culminate in a romantic overtone, which feels more contrived than organic.
“…in Goa, India, Danny searches for inspiration for a new script that he hopes to direct himself…”
Still, the film has much to admire. The cinematography by Subhash Maskara is noteworthy, capturing both the grandeur of Goa’s beaches and the quiet charm of smaller locales. Since Danny spends much of the film wandering, the camera has ample opportunity to showcase the region’s beauty. Music also plays a significant role, with several songs, performed on guitar and vocals by Andrew Sloman himself, woven directly into the narrative.
Perhaps most intriguing is the meta-narrative device. As Danny is a screenwriter, typed pages from his script appear on screen, describing the events unfolding before the viewer. It’s a clever approach that blurs the line between character and storyteller, though at times it undermines the suspense by spoiling key developments, even hinting at its own finale.
Danny Goes Aum delivers some of everything: uneven performances that are sometimes excellent, a protagonist whose motivations are compelling and convoluted, and moments of levity contrasted with sobering reality. Above all, it remains an intimate, personal story that is undeniably intriguing.
"…undeniably intriguing."
