Based on the novel by award-winning novelist, script writer and director Shamim Sarif, “The Unseen World” begins in a local cafe run by a free-spirited Indian woman, Amina (Lisa Ray) whose broken the barriers of her upbringing by becoming an independent free-thinking woman who literally wears the pants. She stands up to the police as her fiery spirit shines through her eyes. She meets Miriam (Sheetal Sheth), at the cafe one day and there is an instant attraction. Miriam however is a conservative woman with three children and a dominating husband who lives by the rules set out by her cultural upbringing - Indian woman should be home with the kids and live to serve their families; trousers are a definite no-no!
Amina's independent mind however makes such an impact on her that she begins to explore who she is as a person and not as just a wife and mother. She starts questioning the rules and constrictions that have limited the possibilities of her life.
The film confronts racism, sexism and homophobia head-on and in such an elegant manner that it will have you captured from start to finish. It is no wonder that it scooped eleven awards at the South African Film and Television Awards last week.
Apart from the SAFTAs, “The Unseen World” won “World Cinema Best Director” at the Phoenix International Film Festival, a silver medal at the Verzaubert Film Festival, “Best Debut Feature” at the Rehoboth Film Festival, “Audience Award, Best Feature” at the Paris Feminist and Lesbian Film Festival, “Audience Award, Best Feature” at the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and “Best Director Feature Award” and “Woman's Favourite Feature Award” at the Clip Film Festival, USA.
The film was exceptional in most aspects apart from casting Colin Moss as an agressive Afrikaans policeman fro the apartheid regime. Colin Moss is the relatively funny guy who was the anchor in Idols; he's the joker in Laugh Out Loud. He just could not be taken seriously in front of a South African audience. However, it still remains an exquisite film.
It takes a film like “The Unseen World” to make you truly appreciate cinema all over again.
The World Unseen will be release Friday, 13 February 2009.
