The incredible story of nineteen-year-old Irena Gut only recently came to light, decades after the events of WWII. Gut was taken prisoner by the Nazis and assigned to be housekeeper and cook to an SS Commander. That’s when she decided to take a dozen Jewish prisoners, who would have been caught up in a planned massacre in the ghetto, and… View Post
Canadian Pakistani filmmaker Zarrar Kahn shows great understanding and mastery in blending film genres in his stunning debut feature In Flames, and great respect for women’s rights. Set in Karachi, Pakistan, it follows a mother and daughter played by Ramesha Nawal and Bakhtawar Mazhar, at a critical point facing grief, economic ruin, homelessness, and the subtle violence of the unwanted… View Post
Ramesha Nawal is Mariam a young woman in Karachi in a psychologically vulnerable state following the death of her father and the betrayal of a male relative who seeks to steal the apartment she shares with her mother Fariha, played by Bakhtawar Mazhar. They’re stunned by the possibility of homelessness as they mourn, with no man to protect them. We… View Post
As we navigate through the heart of Earth Month, our collective dedication to sustainability and environmental stewardship has never been more pivotal. With the blossoming of spring and the warmer days on the horizon, this week’s episode of “What She Said” dives deep into topics that resonate with Earth Month and the vibrancy of April. From the ongoing battle for… View Post
By Anne Brodie Canadian-Pakistani filmmaker Zarrar Kahn’s eerie winner of multiple international awards In Flames is an unusual and intriguing family drama with strong thriller elements, biting social and cultural commentary and an astounding ending. Mariam (Ramesha Nawal) and her mother Farhia (Bakhtawar Mazhar) live in a small apartment in Karachi with Marian’s little brother Bilal (Jibran Khan). Uncle Nasir… View Post
By Anne Brodie Outrageously, hilariously potty-mouther Wicked Little Letters starring Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley looks at what can happen in the small English village of Littlehampton in the 20s when a peculiar prank befouls the air. Prim Edith Swan (Colman), a deeply religious, conservative spinster still living with her parents in her fifth or sixth decade receives profanity-crammed anonymous… View Post