FewfilmsexaminethesocietalpressuresandexpectationsfacedbyyoungwomenofcolourinNorthAmerica.Thepiercingandoftenanxiousdividebetweenculturaltraditionsversusindependenceandacceptanceamongwhitepeersisanoverwhelmingexperiencethatonlythosewhohaveliveditareinapositiontodescribe.Inherimpressivedebutfeature,PakistaniCanadianwriter-directorHayaWaseemexploresthefamilydynamicinanewlight.Theresultispersonal,intimate,andbroughttolifebyanexcitingnewvoiceinCanadiancinema.
Sheila(AroojAzeem)isaPakistaniCanadianteenagerlivinginthesuburbs.Nearingtheendoffirst-yearuniversityandhavingfalleninloveforthefirsttime,withherclassmateEden,Sheiladesiresafreedomthathermotherandfather(playedbyAzeem’sreal-lifeparents)areunwillingtooffer.AfterSheilaloseshervirginitytoEden,heabruptlybreaksupwithher,andhersenseofrealitybeginstounravel,furtheralienatingherfromherfriends,family,andcommunity.Azeemdeliversanimpressivebreakoutperformanceasawomanfindingautonomyandindividualitywhiletryingtosimplybelong.
Quickeningisareminderthatimmigrantsandtheirchildren,inparticularpeopleofcolour,whoareadjustingtoanewlife,newgoals,andnewexpectationscanalsostrugglewiththeirmentalhealth.We’renotjusthappytobehere.WithexquisitephotographyfromChristopherLew,Waseemhascraftedadelicateyettriumphantportrayalofayoungwoman,throughallobstacles,caughtinthepursuitofhappiness.
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