- “In Flames,” Pakistan’s Oscar entry, won the International Newcomer Award at Mannheim-Heidelberg and featured at the Red Sea International Film Festival.
- Lead actress Bakhtawar Mazar highlights the film’s unique horror narrative, delving into deep themes mirroring the challenges faced by Pakistani women.
- Executive producer Shant Joshi sees the project as a progressive representation, serving as an act of solidarity with South Asian communities.
In Flames is Pakistan’s entry for the Oscars’ international feature category, secured the International Newcomer Award at the 72nd International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg. It was also featured at the upcoming Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) in Jeddah.
In Flames Storyline Relatable to Pakistani Women
One of ‘In Flames’ lead actresses insists the movie delves into deep themes that intricately mirror the experiences of Pakistani women at large.
Bakhtawar Mazar, In Flames’ leading actress talks about the film and how it can help viewers understand Pakistani women,
“It’s called a horror, but the horror is stemming from society itself. It’s not a Western style of horror. It’s a horror which is coming part from religion, part from our social fabric, which is very complicated, especially with women. I think everybody should see this film to understand Pakistan and Pakistani women at large.”
Under the direction of Zarrar Kahn, the narrative of the movie revolves around the fragile lives of a mother (played by Bakhtawar Mazar) and her daughter (played by Ramesha Nawal). Their precarious existence takes a sharp turn following the demise of the head of the family. The story continues with figures from their past coming back to disrupt their world. In order to endure the malicious forces that loom over them, they must draw upon the strength within their mother-daughter bond and navigate the challenges together.
The executive producer Shant Joshi spoke about what made the project attractive to him,
“It was really an interesting project to come out of a place like Pakistan with respect to its progressive look at women in general. For me, my heritage is Indian, and in 2020 we’d seen larger, draconian measures taken against the Muslim population in India. So, I felt like it was its own act of solidarity with South Asian communities to support this project and help take it through to production.”
From Directors’ Fortnight to Oscars – The Film Makes Waves Globally
Zarrar Kahn’s horror-drama, “In Flames,” achieved the remarkable feat of being only the second Pakistani film in 43 years to be included in Directors’ Fortnight, a parallel event to the esteemed Cannes Film Festival. Recently, the film enjoyed an independent release at Atrium Cinemas in Karachi, running for an initially planned 12 days, later extended until November 9. Notably, it has also graced the screens at prestigious festivals in Toronto, Busan, Sitges, Sao Paulo, and Pingyao.
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