Directed by Taira Malaney, and co-written with Sam Rogers, follows the life of Satish Bhaskar, an Indian conservationist who dedicated himself to studying and protecting endangered sea turtles along India’s coasts in the 1970s, and explores the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami on their habitats.
Unsurprisingly for a film dedicated to nature, Turtle Walker does not disappoint with its stunning visual. The types of scenes that Taira Malaney and cinematographer Krish Makhija capture are ones that you could happily keep watching for a lot longer than seventy-five minutes. That wonderful aesthetic is then matched with an intensely wholesome and sweet personality. Malaney strikes a tone that is welcoming and friendly to introduce you to Satish Bhaskar but not become too light or saccharine.
It’s undoubtedly captivating to watch a passion such as Bhaskar’s, his dedication stretches to some serious lengths. However, there is one key turning point which was rather bold of the filmmakers to include, and while each reaction will be different, you may find yourself rather offput by it. It’s a fascinating choice by Taira Malaney as it adds a divisive complexity. Although another which is mostly overlooked is how during these lengthy periods of time that Bhaskar was studying sea turtles, he was leaving his wife. It feels like she’s far too overlooked considering how much she also had to sacrifice for his passion.
That is something which Turtle Walker struggles with, finding the right balance between the different elements of the story. One that stands out strongly is that despite spending all that time exploring his research on sea turtles, it doesn’t feel like we learn very much about them, other than where they live or a few different names of species. It’s a shame not to spend a little more time talking about their habits, instead focusing entirely on Satish Bhaskar, which works but is limiting itself.
Turtle Walker is visually exceptional and builds a charming personality but is missing out on a better balance. It feels as though there’s a few things included that didn’t necessarily need to be and a few that weren’t included, that should have been. Taira Malaney makes some interesting choices, and some unusual ones, and really tries to paint a well-rounded picture of Satish Bhaskar. However, it feels like its focus was too singular and needed to expand outward to flesh this story out and reach its full potential.
FilmCarnage.com 
[…] In terms of tone and execution, the film is meditative and visually rich — rather than a high‑drama conservation thriller, it gently immerses us in the rhythms of coastlines, turtles, and a man’s lifelong mission. Critics note that it “does not disappoint with its stunning visuals” and has a tone that is “welcoming and friendly,” while still being serious in its subject matter. (FilmCarnage.com) […]
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