The Boat

“One day I’m going to get a big boat and go off on an adventure,” says Dhuckia (Tejuswee Ram Dahal), walking home with her father Raoul (Shree Ram Dahal). She’s been hanging out with him whilst he works on fixing up boats. He’s lost that job, but he has money, and her presence cheers him. Though she has older sisters, she’s clearly his favourite, and being the baby of the family, she’s the one he’s protective of. That night, when members of the local community are gathered round a bonfire and the other girls are toasting marshmallows, he hesitates to let her join in, afraid that she might burn herself. What follows alerts him to something far worse.

Today, leprosy, the oldest known infectious disease to affect humanity, can be cured with a simple combination of antibiotics. In some parts of the world, however, there is no access to these, and when people become infected, their loved ones face awful decisions. The Boat is based on a true story and was made with the support of The Mission To End Leprosy. The story it tells is not as cruel as some, but it’s the manner of the telling and the deep love evident between father and daughter that gives it power.

Director Luke Morgan (whose brother Jake Morgan produces) is a poet, and poetry and short film have a good deal in common. The storytelling here is efficient but loses none of its emotive power as a consequence. Morgan understands the importance of restraint and gives the audience room to interpret unfolding events for themselves. The film touches on modern and ancient – yet persistent – ways of understanding the disease, and uses small observations to encapsulate the tragedy of the situation.

Qualified for the 2025 Oscars, The Boat has already attracted widespread praise. It’s an exemplary piece of work, beautifully photographed by Lakshika Serasinhe, and you should not miss it.