This may not be the first time a Pakistani film is being screened at Cannes Film Festival but it surely is a proud moment for the country once again. The short film stars Sarwat Gilani and Joshinder Chaggar in leading roles.
The thoughtful short film ‘Baat Cheet’ has previously won three gold awards at a Documentary & Short International Movie Awards 2015 in Indonesia held earlier this year
Sarwat Gilani shared that she was extremely pleased with the news: “It’s always a pleasure to be recognised as a talented nation especially when the platform is the entire world. I am delighted that our film made it to Cannes…and most happy that it won three gold awards.”
She explained that the film was “an abstract version of a conversation taking place between two friends over tea”.
But how does a ten-minute film encompass so many characters? Sarwat said the film has been beautifully conceived and told by Rayika. “Every actor gets little time to convince the audience of their part and that’s the beauty of a short-film,” she added.
Elaborating on the role of her lead actors, Sarwat Gillani and Joshinder Chaggar, director and producer, Rayika Choudri said, “The main characters are close friends and their very act of confiding in each other is one way of coping.”
“Although, we see here that there are limitations on how effective this can be — sometimes it feels good to talk to someone and sometimes we feel misunderstood and alone even when we do.”
“In one respect, I’d say this film is an essay on coping mechanisms. The various episodes discussed show different ways in which people manage emotional crises,” Choudri told, adding that the inspiration for the film came from the emotional fragility of humans.
But the film also has a powerful aspect of humour. “That idea is represented by an account of a mugger who is having a bad day,” she added.
Rayika Choudri
10 mn
May 2014
Pakistan
URDU
Fiction
Comedy, Drama
Digital