APM - Asian Project Market

 

Back to list Rehana Maryam Noor (aka I See Waves)

Director’s Profile

Abdullah Mohammad Saad was born in 1985 in Chittagong, Bangladesh. He graduated with a degree in Education and Research from the University of Dhaka, before starting to make short films and founding his own production company. His first film, Live from Dhaka (2016), won Best Director and Best Actor prizes at the Singapore International Film Festival 2016, juried by Kawase Naomi, and has also been selected at International Film Festival Rotterdam 2017, Festival Cinema Africano Asia e America Latina 2017, International Film Festival of South Asia Toronto 2017, and Jeonju International Film Festival 2017, among others.

Synopsis

After witnessing a sexual assault, Rehana, an assistant professor at a local medical college, finds herself in a difficult position as she knows both the victim and the perpetrator. The female victim chooses to bury the incident but the teacher who assaulted her begins to fall apart due to unbearable guilt. Rehana helps him cope with his guilt through a terrifying ritualistic self-punishment. But, then the victim changes her mind and files a complaint with the principal, in which she mentions Rehana as an eyewitness.
At the end of the investigatory process, the judgment will rest solely upon her statement and Rehana must choose a side. If she tells the truth, the teacher, who she believes has already been punished enough, will be prosecuted accordingly; if she lies, the girl will be expelled permanently from the college for attempting to disgrace a well-respected teacher.
Rehana finds herself locked in a dilemma and can see no way out.

Achievements

2021 Cannes film festival - Un Certain Regard
2021 BFI London Film Festival
2021 Busan International Film Festival

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