Now on Blu-ray: DUKHTAR, Another Side of South Asian Cinema

Afia Nathaniel's drama Dukhtar was Pakistan's official entry to the Academy Awards back in 2015. While the film didn't receive the nomination, it was clear that this is a feature that resonated with audiences far beyond Pakistan's traditional film audiences. The film, co-produced by no less than half a dozen companies, is a watershed in the depiction of the Pakistani tribal crisis that affects thousands of residents of the country's remote nothern regions. The tribal areas act very much as minor fiefdoms in which women are frequently traded as political collateral. In Dukhtar, one mother has finally had enough and she makes a decision that will change everything.

I reviewed the film as a part of the South Asian International Film Festival in November of 2014 and found myself moved beyond my own expectations:

Director Afia Nathaniel has made what is both a harrowing and breathtaking cinematic adventure. Dukhtar is an expose of the appaling tribal practices in the furthest reaches of Pakistan, where the rule of central government holds no sway. Beyond that, it's the story of how easily humanity can be lot, and conversely, how hard it can be to preserve what humanity dwells within the innocent children around us all. Zainab sees terrible, terrible things, she is the victim of threats of physical and sexual violence, yet she bounces back in a way that only children can. While she will likely need the services of a therapist by the time she hits young adulthood, she'll be alive to do it, and that trade off isn't so bad.

I'm not a big fan of message movies, and I'm not a huge fan of film that present themselves as essential. However, with Dukhtar, the illumination of these practices is something that any socially conscious person should find appalling. Much like with Titli, Liar's Dice, and any number of other Indian message movies, Dukhtar finds peace and passion in the plight of the downtrodden in this remote part fo the world. To reward that passion with attention and acknowledgement is the least we can do. Highly recommended.

Upon a revisit, I am even more taken with the gorgeous cinematography, wonderful sound, and precise staging of the film in addition to the incredibly moving and gripping story. Pakistan isn't typically thought of as one of the great hubs for international film production, and Dukhtar on its own is hardly enough to a reason to change that perception. However, the film stands up very well in spite of what must have been some pretty stiff challenges and reveals the immense potential that exists in the Pakistani filmmaking community, and I find that incredibly exciting

The Disc

Dukhtar arrives on home video in the US from Kino International as a part of their new brand, Silk Road Pictures. Silk Road Pictures is an imprint dedicated to bringing South Asian cinema to American theaters and home video, an effort that is commendable on its own. With Dukhtar, Silk Road comes out of the gate strong with a beautiful presentation of an exceptionally well shot film. The natural beauty of Pakistan is stunningly captured on this disc in a way that I don't think many (including me) have seen before.

The lone extra on this Blu-ray disc is a commentary track from director Afia Nathaniel, who has seen her film travel the world several times over on the festival circuit. Nathaniel is eloquent in discussing her film, and it's a film that really needs some context to fully appreciate. Overall, the first home video release from Silk Road is pretty good. If I had any real criticism, I'd say that I wish there was more context provided through interviews or featurettes, but, let's consider this a baby step in the right direction.