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In Flames film image

In the wake of her beloved grandfather’s death, Mariam (Ramesha Nawal) and her mother, Fariha (Bakhtawar Mazhar), can barely begin mourning before the human vultures swoop in, intent on wresting their family home from them. In turn, when Mariam’s secret romance with a fellow medical student (Omar Javaid) meets an untimely end, she’s plagued by malevolent forces that pursue her through the streets of Karachi, Pakistan. With every kindness coming with a garrote wire attached, Mariam and Fariha must rely on one another to survive.

Returning to his birthplace, writer-director Zarrar Kahn immerses us in an oppressive patriarchal society where misogyny runs rampant, leaving Mariam and Fariha under constant threat. But, in pitting them against these seemingly indomitable forces, he reveals their deep wells of resolve. As Kahn masterfully ratchets up the tension, we witness an initial struggle for agency become a captivating bid for empowerment.

 

September 29 & October 1: Q&A with director Zarrar Kahn & crew

 

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Director
Cast

Ramesha Nawal, Omar Javaid, Bakhtawar Mazhar, Adnan Shah Tipu, Mohammad Ali Hashmi

Credits
Country of Origin

Canada/Pakistan

Year

2022

Language

In Urdu with English subtitles

Film Contact
Content Warning

Sexual Discrimination

18+
98 min
Drama Horror & Sci-Fi

Book Tickets

Sunday October 01

12:00 pm
Guests/Q&As Hearing Assistance Subtitles
International Village 8
Book Now

Credits

Executive Producer

Shant Joshi, Todd Brown, Maxime Cottray

Producer

Anam Abbas, Hamza Bangash, Associate produced by Carol Ann Noronha

Screenwriter

Zarrar Kahn, Mohammad Ali Hashmi

Cinematography

Aigul Nurbulatova

Editor

Craig Scorgie, Zarrar Kahn

Production Design

Matti Malik

Original Music

Kalaisan Kalaichelvan

Director

Zarrar Kahn headshot

Zarrar Kahn

Zarrar Kahn is an award-winning Pakistani-Canadian filmmaker whose film In Flames is the first South Asian Horror to premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival as part of the Director’s Fortnight. He is an alumnus of the TIFF Talent Lab, Locarno Filmmakers Academy, Open Doors Locarno, Asian Film Academy and Director’s Lab program at the Canadian Film Centre. His works have been screened and awarded in over 70+ film festivals worldwide, including TIFF, Locarno, and BFI London. Born in Karachi, and currently based out of Toronto, Kahn is committed to telling stories that amplify historically marginalized communities.

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