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Director’s Profile

"Mostofa Sarwar Farooki could be the next South-east Asian filmmaker to break out”, The Hollywood Reporter wrote in the review of his film Television (2012). Variety’s Jay Weissberg wrote, “Mostofa Sarwar Farooki is a key exemplar of Bangladeshi new wave cinema movement”. He is a contemporary Bangladeshi film director and screenwriter. He is also the pioneer of an avant-garde filmmakers’ movement called ‘Chabial.’
His fourth feature Television (2012) was the closing film of Busan International Film Festival and won Jury Grand Prize in 2013 Asia Pacific Screen Awards in addition to 5 more international awards from Dubai, Jogja-Indonesia, Asiatica-Roma, and Kolkata. Ant Story (2013) is his fifth feature and got nominated for Golden Goblet Awards at the 2014 Shanghai International Film Festival and Muhr Asia/Africa Awards at the 2013 Dubai International Film Festival. It is also in competition for 2014 Asia Pacific Screen Awards.

Synopsis

Shahid is persecuted in one country for not being Muslim and discriminated in another country for being Muslim. The search for a dignified and safe identity tosses him to different parts of the world- Bangladesh, India, America, and Australia. In this roller coaster journey, he tries many masks and ducks many dangers. However, Shahid’s tribulations are made bearable by the love and succor provided by a few kind souls. One such individual is Cathy, an Australian student in America, who Shahid falls in love with.

Introducing himself as an Indian Hindu in America, Shahid builds the relationship with Cathy based on many lies about his family and background. At one point, Cathy discovers the truth but is too in love with Shahid to embarrass him with it. From then on, we see a game between them where Shahid tries desperately to hide the truth from Cathy and, at the same time, Cathy tries hard not to face the reality of his lies. This game silently releases a strange aura of love between them. Shahid feels this newfound identity is finally the one that has given him his life back.

Ultimately, however, during their nuptial vacation in Australia, he falls victim to anti-Indian pogroms. Lying in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, Shahid wonders which identity, if any, can make one completely safe in a schizophrenic world brought together by communication but torn apart by intolerance.

Achievements

2021 Busan International Film Festival

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