Pakistani short film The Curfew, written by filmmaker Shehrezad Maher, will have its world premiere at the Venice Biennale tomorrow, September 4. It is the only Pakistani film at this year festival that is held between August 27 and September 6. The Venice Biennale is regarded as one of the big three film festivals that celebrate Pakistan, besides Cannes and Berlin, it has previously issued a tribute to Pakistan in 2019 when the Saim Sadiq film Darling was honored with Best Short Film.
The Curfew is a 19-minute movie that stars Sathya Sridharan, Balinder Johal, Sara Haider, Rajesh Bose, Chris Thorn and Salwa Khan. The movie narrates how Ayaan becomes a housekeeper to his grandmother temporarily. To manoeuvre a language barrier, they discover the remnants of the colonial past that define the interactions between Ayaan and strangers and between Ayaan and Ayaan. Shehrezad Maher uses a photograph of colonial-era oppression that was taken in 1919 to examine how historical backgrounds still resonate across generations, affecting identity, familial relationships, and social life in diasporic environments.
Another actor who provides humor and dimension to the family relations is Sara Haider, who plays the role of Ayaan sister Zaynab. Maher was raised in Karachi, which was reflected in her narration of stories that were surreal and darkly comedic as she pondered on the enduring effects of British colonialism.
Read more: Netflix Confirms OTT Release of ‘Pushpa 2’
The Curfew will influence the viewers worldwide with the on-line distribution of the film after its festival tour, providing the Pakistani cinema with another significant milestone. The work of Shehrezad Maher has continued to bring Pakistan into global attention with a focus on culturally appealing stories that have a global appeal.
Read more: Quratulain Balouch Injured in Bear Attack at Deosai National Park
