What Will People Say

What Will People Say is an international co-production from Norway and Germany that was screened at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. It is a groundbreaking tale of cultural clash and resilience against societal expectations, with riveting performances by its lead characters Maria Mozhdah, Adil Hussain, and Ekavali Khanna.

This extraordinary film elegantly captures a dual life of a young girl oscillating between two completely divergent worlds. Life dramatically unveils for the Pakistani Norwegian teenager Nisha, played by Maria Mozhdah, when she gets caught by her father Mirza, played by Adil Hussain, while sneaking her Norwegian boyfriend into her bedroom. A headstrong patriarch concerning his community's regard and scared of losing face amongst his peers, Mirza finds himself faced with the painful task of shipping Nisha off to Pakistan to live with her extended family, triggering a cycle of events that turns her life upside down.

Nisha negotiates these treacherous waters like a piece on a chessboard, moving from the relatively liberal culture of Norway to the strictly traditional and conservative environment of her family's homeland. Nisha's mother, portrayed by Ekavali Khanna, provides a subtly gripping performance that perfectly mirrors the quiet despair and acceptance of a woman trapped within the chains of society's rigid expectations and limitations.

Director Iram Haq's semi-autobiographical story presents a stark portrayal of cultural collision that stabs right at the heart of societal norms stubbornly clinging unto old values in a rapidly modernizing world. The brilliance of this film lies not just in Haq's sensitive handling of a difficult subject but equally in the compelling performances of the protagonists, who effortlessly convey the internal conflicts and the invisible but tightly-held shackles that bind them.

Nisha's struggle isn't just against the mounting cultural and societal pressure but also to navigate through her personal identity and freedom. She's torn between her family's traditional values and the irreconcilable differences with her pursuit of individual liberty. This crisis of identity is lucidly reflected through moments of her rebellion, tinged with moments of vulnerability and longing to fit into a society that resents her independent spirit.

On the other hand, Mirza is projected not as a blatant villain but as a painfully realistic character who succumbs to societal pressures and traditions despite his love for his daughter. He is the product and preserver of a culture that unjustly places the honor of a family over the individual identities of its members, particularly women.

Adil Hussain's portrayal of father Mirza is heart-wrenching as he walks the tightrope between his duty as a father and his loyalty to age-old customs and societal expectations. Maria Mozhdah, on the other hand, convincingly depicts Nisha's journey from a carefree teenager to a young woman battling for her right to determine her life, making viewers profoundly feel the impact of the internal and external conflicts these characters endure.

Ekavali Khanna delivers a nuanced performance as Nisha's mother, who silently accepts and complies with the societal norms and cultural expectations bound by generations of tradition. While appearing conformed to set customs on the surface, Ekavali's subtle expression of a mother's pain over her daughter's situation and the silent resistance of her circumstances is thoroughly felt.

What Will People Say is a cinematic masterpiece that insightfully explores the complex dynamics of culture, tradition, and personal freedom. Director Iram Haq presents a moving narrative, laden with audacious realities and provocative questions, exposing the multiple shades of human emotions, cultural clash, and societal pressures. It's a thought-provoking reflection of the identity crisis and the perennial balancing act between maintaining familial honor and pursuing individual liberty faced by the immigrant families treading the space between old traditions and new worlds.

The film's narrative emanates an emotional intensity that undeniably strikes a chord in the viewers, leaving them to contemplate long after the screen darkens. A film worth watching and pondering, "What Will People Say" stands as an impactful testament to the struggles of cultural assimilation and identity crisis within the global diaspora.