Dukhtar-Daughter (12A)

Director: Afia Nathaniel

Starring: Samiya Mumtaz, Mohib Mirza, Saleha Aref

Pakistan/USA/Norway, 2014, 1 hour 33 minutes, subtitles

This gripping road movie both explores the disturbing plight of child brides and subtly unveils the connected struggles of generations of women shouldering adversity. Gorgeously filmed in the beautiful high Himalaya this is the thrilling tale of a brave mother who flees with her 10-year-old daughter to save her from marriage to a local warlord. On the road with murderous tribesman on their heels a friendly truck driver reluctantly helps them out. Interestingly the film gradually changes gear from a simple chase movie into a subtle exploration of mother-daughter relationships. Fine acting, fabulous music, an unlikely heroine, and a strong plot that is deeply entrenched in the harsh realities of life make this the best film to come out of Pakistan in many years.

Pakistan’s submission for the Best Foreign Language Oscar 2014

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