ONE-WAY GLASS<\/b>
\nDir: Nauman Khalid
\n16 min | 2020 | UK | English, Panjabi<\/p>\n
Screening on September 4, Program 6 in Short Film Package – FAMILY MATTERS! “One-way Glass” is a subtle, yet hard-hitting short film about a hapless migrant Pakistani woman Farzana, trapped in a violent, sexless, loveless marriage. Every night she transforms from a repressed, dutiful wife into a visually striking blonde-haired bombshell, when she is able to become the person she longs to be.\u00a0She is caught in the harsh realities of modern-day\u00a0London, trying to make a living whilst also struggling through the trials and tribulations of her failing marriage, till one day she discovers a truth about her\u00a0husband.<\/p>\n
The 16-minute film gives us serious food for thought through its unravelling plot, webs of deception, and the characters who are entrapped due to their circumstances. The multi-layered story is about the human condition, and the unexpected turn of events makes this a rather compelling narrative.<\/p>\n
The cast is exceptional. Farzana, played by Amna Khalid is a natural, even though she is an untrained actor, and delivers a strong central performance. In real life she is an accomplished academic, who had the enviable task of choosing between Trinity College, Cambridge and St. Antony\u2019s, Oxford for her DPhil. which she completed and went on to a teaching position at the University of Cape Town. She is currently Professor of South Asian History at the elite liberal arts college, Carleton in Northfield, Minnesota.<\/p>\n
Steve Aaron Sipple and Noah Butt, the two male leads are both professional actors and they complement Amna\u2019s strong performance. They both deliver memorable performances as Tom, the sex-worker, and Habib, Farzana\u2019s husband.<\/p>\n
The soulful background score is by Sarmad Ghafoor who’s been responsible for internationally applauded shows like Coke Studio in Pakistan; the beautiful cinematography is by Markus Ilschner.\u00a0<\/u><\/p>\n
“I would say that the star of the film is Amna Khalid as Farzana but seeing how passionately the entire team, cast and crew, worked on the film they are all stars of the film. They all deserve to be cheered for putting together a great film. Of particular mention would be the writer, Irfan Ahmed Urfi; the producer, Aybuke Kavas; the cinematographer, Markus Ilschner and the AD and Editor, Olly Barilla,” says the director Nauman Khalid.<\/p>\n\r\n