"People don’t think about it. They think buildings come from nowhere." The inner workings of a small family and an Indian society where economic development sometimes exacts a steep human and moral price are the focus of Shalini Adnani’s razor-sharp gaze in Our Share of Sand, a brilliant debut feature (by this director of Indian descent, born in Chile and based in London) which was presented in International Film Critics’ Week in the 83rd Venice Film Festival.

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There are few things more gratifying (master paintings aside, of course) than discovering, right from the outset, a young talent with genuine narrative and visual command, coupled with a keen feel for psychological and sociological observation, all subtly honed without forgetting a few forays on the margins of genre cinema (a dash of adventure, a hint of investigation, a whiff of action) to energise and aerate this surprising and intelligent coming-of-age tale.

"How deep did they dive ?" Having only recently arrived in India after spending her childhood in the United Kingdom, 12-year-old Maya (Maya Mehta) watches the new world around her with close attention and curiosity, in particular the sand-mining operation run by her father (Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub) further along the river, helped by a team of workers (armed with nothing more than buckets and ropes) which includes young Kiran (Krish Raj More). When an accident leaves the latter with a ruptured eardrum and Maya sees her father hiding the depth gauge, she begins to question her father’s social worldview ("they’re not your friends” – “They live with us” – “No, they work for us. We’re a family, we’re connected by blood” – “No, we’re connected by the house and by money"), which is also shared by her grandmother and inherited from the past. A conflict of loyalty gnaws away at Maya and at her mother Priti (Ellora Torchia) who was once a santoor player and is now idle. And more surprises are yet to come…

"Open the door – I can’t hear you." By sharing this allegory through the suddenly unclouded eyes of a child who’s been jolted awake by circumstances, Shalini Adnani shows great suggestive skill in capturing and conveying non-verbal signals. And she also reveals, in deft, telling strokes, the broader backdrop of her argument about the ravages of growth and the moral complicity that accompanies it, asking us what a life is truly worth. It’s a work of great craftsmanship, especially for a debut feature film (set in the jungle and along the river), revealing a filmmaker-come-diamond in the early stages of being formed.

Our Share of Sand was produced by Fifth Mirror Pictures (United Kingdom) in co-production with Heretic (Greece), in association with Suitable Pictures (India). Global Constellation are handling international sales.