Shaheer Ahmed
With his horror-thriller In Flames, Pakistani director Zarrar Kahn has entered the Cannes Film Festival in France and is already garnering plaudits for it. The women-focused movie, which stars Rameesha Nawal, Bakhtawar Mazhar, Adnan Shah, and Omair Javaid, has been chosen to make its world premiere at the famous film festival’s Directors Fortnight, where it will be shown from May 19 to May 27.
In Flames, a film by Anam Abbas, following a mother and a daughter as they struggle to deal with their relationship and everyday life after the passing of the family patriarch. They are under threat by evil forces, and they must rely on one another for support if they are to live. The movie relies largely on the feelings, sounds, and monologues between the women instead of music or a glamorous aspect.
Globe and Mail compared Kahn’s direction to that of American film director Ari Aster. “The film is put together with intense craft and torque we saw in Ari Aster’s hereditary, but with more heart and conviction,” they wrote in a review.
“During the shoot and recording for the film, I knew that this story will definitely get world fame,” The lead actress said. “And it came true. The film was then selected for screening at international festivals including Cannes. I am happy about it, but my mother is more happy than me.”
However, Mazhar, does not take all the credit for it. “This film involves the hard work of not only me but the entire team. We are all happy about this success,” she concluded.
