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Set in contemporary [[Karachi]], the film centres on Mariam (Nawal), a young woman who becomes haunted by visions of the past, after the death of family's patriarch leaves her and her mother, Fariha (Mazhar) in a vulnerable social position in Pakistan's highly patriarchal society.[6]
Set in contemporary [[Karachi]], the film centres on Mariam (Nawal), a young woman who becomes haunted by visions of the past, after the death of family's patriarch leaves her and her mother, Fariha (Mazhar) in a vulnerable social position in Pakistan's highly patriarchal society.[6]


In Flames had its world premiere at the [[2023 Cannes Film Festival]] on 19 May 2023 in the [[Directors' Fortnight]] section, where it competed for the [https://www.quinzaine-cineastes.fr/en/film/in-flames Camera D'Or].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keslassy |first=Elsa |date=2023-04-18 |title=Cannes’ Directors Fortnight Unveils 2023 Lineup, Including Films by Hong Sang-soo, Michel Gondry |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/cannes-directors-fortnight-hong-sang-soo-michel-gondry-manoel-de-oliveira-1235586582/ |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Joshi |first=Namrata |title=Another Pakistani film tackling patriarchy to premiere in France |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/19/another-pakistani-film-tackling-patriarchy-to-premier-in-france |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref>
In Flames had its world premiere at the [[2023 Cannes Film Festival]] on 19 May 2023 in the [[Directors' Fortnight]] section, where it competed for the [[Camera d'Or]]<ref>https://www.quinzaine-cineastes.fr/en/film/in-flames Camera D'Or </ref>.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keslassy |first=Elsa |date=2023-04-18 |title=Cannes’ Directors Fortnight Unveils 2023 Lineup, Including Films by Hong Sang-soo, Michel Gondry |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/cannes-directors-fortnight-hong-sang-soo-michel-gondry-manoel-de-oliveira-1235586582/ |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Joshi |first=Namrata |title=Another Pakistani film tackling patriarchy to premiere in France |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/19/another-pakistani-film-tackling-patriarchy-to-premier-in-france |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref>


This marked the return of Pakistan to Director's Fortnight [https://www.arabnews.com/node/2306086/pakistan after more than four decades]. The film received [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cannes-2023-hidden-gem-pakistan-film-in-flames-1235494012/ major critical acclaim] at Cannes, followed by a North American premiere at the [[Toronto International Film Festival]] and winning [https://www.screendaily.com/news/zarrar-kahns-in-flames-wins-top-prize-at-red-sea-film-festival/5188626.article Best Picture] at the [[Red Sea International Film Festival]]
This marked the return of Pakistan to Director's Fortnight after more than four decades <ref>https://www.arabnews.com/node/2306086/pakistan</ref>. The film received major critical acclaim<ref>https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cannes-2023-hidden-gem-pakistan-film-in-flames-1235494012/</ref> at Cannes, followed by a North American premiere at the [[Toronto International Film Festival]] and winning Best Picture<ref>https://www.screendaily.com/news/zarrar-kahns-in-flames-wins-top-prize-at-red-sea-film-festival/5188626.article </ref> at the [[Red Sea International Film Festival]]

It premiered in Pakistan on 20 October 2023 and received generally positive<ref>https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1123666-we-dont-talk-about-mariam positive reviews</ref> from critics.


The film was selected as the Pakistani entry for the [[Academy Award for Best International Feature Film|Best International Feature Film]] at the [[96th Academy Awards]].<ref name="hr:oscar">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/china-wandering-earth-2-pakistan-in-flames-2024-international-oscars-entry-1235630503/|last=Verhoeven|first=Beatrice|date=October 27, 2023|access-date=October 28, 2023 |title=China Submits 'The Wandering Earth 2' As Its 2024 International Oscars Entry (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref>
The film was selected as the Pakistani entry for the [[Academy Award for Best International Feature Film|Best International Feature Film]] at the [[96th Academy Awards]].<ref name="hr:oscar">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/china-wandering-earth-2-pakistan-in-flames-2024-international-oscars-entry-1235630503/|last=Verhoeven|first=Beatrice|date=October 27, 2023|access-date=October 28, 2023 |title=China Submits 'The Wandering Earth 2' As Its 2024 International Oscars Entry (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref>


==Synopsis==
==Synopsis==
Set in modern-day [[Karachi]], the film opens with the death of the family patriarch. Mother and daughter find themselves in a precarious situation where their existence is ripped apart. In order to survive in a hostile world dominated by men, the [https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/in-flames-review-1235831644/ two women] will have to work together in the face of threats both real and supernatural.
Set in modern-day [[Karachi]], the film opens with the death of the family patriarch. Mother and daughter find themselves in a precarious situation where their existence is ripped apart. In order to survive in a hostile world dominated by men, the two women will have to work together in the face of threats both real and supernatural.<ref>https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/in-flames-review-1235831644/</ref>


==Cast==
==Cast==
Line 40: Line 42:
* [[Adnan Shah Tipu]] as Uncle Nasir
* [[Adnan Shah Tipu]] as Uncle Nasir
* Omar Javaid as Asad<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-05-20 |title='In Flames' cast, Adnan Shah Tipu, make waves at Cannes |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2417714/in-flames-cast-including-adnan-shah-tipu-make-waves-at-cannes |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref>
* Omar Javaid as Asad<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-05-20 |title='In Flames' cast, Adnan Shah Tipu, make waves at Cannes |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2417714/in-flames-cast-including-adnan-shah-tipu-make-waves-at-cannes |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

==Release==
===Premiere and festival screenings===
''In Flames'' had its world premiere at the [[76th Cannes Film Festival]] in the ''[[Director's Fortnight]]'' section on 19 May 2023<ref>https://www.quinzaine-cineastes.fr/en/film/in-flames</ref>. [[XYZ Films]], a US-based firm, has taken up the international rights<ref>https://variety.com/2023/film/news/xyz-films-new-visions-cannes-directors-fortnight-in-flames-1235586598/</ref> for the film while North American distribution was acquired by Game Theory Films <ref>https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/in-flames-horror-movie-game-theory-films-1235638704/</ref>. French rights of the film were acquired by The Jokers.

The film was invited at [[2023 Toronto International Film Festival]] in the "Contemporary World Cinema" section and was screened on 14 September 2023 <ref>https://tiff.net/events/in-flames</ref>. It was also selected as part of the [[28th Busan International Film Festival]]'s "A Window on Asian Cinema" section, screening on 7 October 2023.<ref>https://www.biff.kr/eng/html/program/prog_view.asp?idx=67637&c_idx=393&sp_idx=&QueryStep=2</ref> Later in October, it was invited to the 57th [[Sitges Film Festival]] as part of the Official Fantastic section, held from 3 to 13 October 2024.


==Production==
==Production==
Kahn, a [[Pakistani Canadians|Pakistani Canadian]] director who has worked in both countries, wrote the film as a commentary on patriarchy and sexism in Pakistan.<ref name=hiddengem/> He has stated that he chose to write it as a horror metaphor rather than a socially realist drama, so that he could give Mariam the [[autonomy|agency]] to fight back and survive; he acknowledged that the film draws on the [[final girl]] trope in horror fiction, stating that "at least, in movies like these, she’s still there at the end of the film and she’s conquered her demons."<ref name=hiddengem/> He further stated that he had been influenced by films such as ''[[Atlantics|Atlantiques]]'' and ''[[Titane]]'', which "are using genre in new and exciting ways".<ref name=hiddengem/>
Kahn, a [[Pakistani Canadians|Pakistani Canadian]] director who has worked in both countries, wrote the film as a commentary on patriarchy and sexism in Pakistan. <ref>https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cannes-2023-hidden-gem-pakistan-film-in-flames-1235494012/</ref>


He described the genre elements of the film being an "extension of the characters' experience...to be in the shoes of Mariam and Fariha, to be suffocated.. and how much power there is in their resistance.”<ref>https://torontofilmcritics.com/features/zarrar-kahn-anam-abbas-on-in-flames-and-forging-new-territory-in-canadian-cinema/</ref>
Mariam was previously a character in Kahn's 2018 short film ''Dia'', although she was portrayed by a different actress in that film.<ref name=simonpillai/>


The film was shot in [[Karachi]] in February 2022.<ref>Namrata Joshi, [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/19/another-pakistani-film-tackling-patriarchy-to-premier-in-france "Another Pakistani film tackling patriarchy to premiere in France"]. ''[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]]'', April 19, 2023.</ref>
The film was shot in [[Karachi]] in February 2022.<ref>Namrata Joshi, [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/19/another-pakistani-film-tackling-patriarchy-to-premier-in-france "Another Pakistani film tackling patriarchy to premiere in France"]. ''[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]]'', April 19, 2023.</ref>


Fae Pictures co-produced the film, which received funding from the [[Telefilm Canada|Telefilm]] Talent to Watch program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=In Flames |url=https://www.faepictures.com/in-flames |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=Fae Pictures |language=en-US}}</ref>
Kahn produced the film through his company CityLights Media, which received funding from the [[Telefilm Canada|Telefilm]] Talent to Watch program. Other Memory Media co-produced with Fae Pictures as the executive producers on the film. <ref>https://playbackonline.ca/2023/09/14/in-flames-filmmakers-look-to-build-buzz-for-theatrical-release/#:~:text=In%20Flames%20was%20the%20first,project's%20U.S.%20distributor%20in%202021.</ref>

==Distribution==
The film was picked up for distribution by [[XYZ Films]] in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=2022-11-23 |title=XYZ Films Boards North American Sales on South Asian Horror ‘In Flames’ (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/xyz-south-asian-horror-in-flames-1235439752/ |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kay |first=Jeremy |title=XYZ Films sells Cannes Directors’ Fortnight entry ‘In Flames’ to multiple territories (exclusive) |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/xyz-films-sells-cannes-directors-fortnight-entry-in-flames-to-multiple-territories-exclusive/5185297.article |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=Screen |language=en}}</ref> It premiered at Cannes as the debut title for New Visions, XYZ's new label for microbudget horror films by emerging directors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roxborough |first=Scott |date=2023-04-19 |title=Cannes: XYZ Launches New Visions Label With ‘In Flames’ |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cannes-2023-xyz-launch-new-visions-label-in-flames-1235391430/ |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

It had its Canadian premiere at the [[2023 Toronto International Film Festival]] on 7 September.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Hazelton |first=John |title=TIFF sets Centrepiece line-up of international cinema |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/tiff-sets-centrepiece-line-up-of-international-cinema/5184801.article |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=Screen |language=en}}</ref> The film is also invited at the [[28th Busan International Film Festival]] in 'A Window on Asian Cinema' section and will be screened in October 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biff.kr/eng/html/program/prog_all_list.asp?allYear=2023 |title= The 28th Busan International Film Festival: Selection List |website=Busan International Film Festival|date=September 5, 2023|access-date=September 9, 2023|language=en}}</ref> It will also compete in the Official Selection at the [[56th Sitges Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sitgesfilmfestival.com/en/noticies/festivals-56th-edition-kicks-announcing-its-complete-lineup|title=The Festival's 56th Edition Kicks Off by Announcing its Complete Lineup|website=[[Sitges Film Festival]]|date=12 September 2023|accessdate=17 September 2023}}</ref>


==Critical response==
==Critical response==
The film currently has a 100% rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]], based on five reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |title=In Flames - Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/in_flames |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref>
The film currently has a 92% rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]], based on thirteen reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |title=In Flames - Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/in_flames |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref>


Christian Zilko of ''[[IndieWire]]'' wrote that "Zarrar Kahn’s genre-bending horror movie — which has the well-deserved honor of being the first Pakistani film to premiere in the Directors’ Fortnight in over four decades — is a Kafkaesque saga of niceties gone awry. What begins as a story of a poor family relying on the kindness of their community quickly turns into a hellish tale of how the ground is always shifting underneath you when all of your benefactors have an angle. Kahn's masterful use of red herrings and subtext creates an environment where nobody ever quite knows where they stand. It's a seedy ride through a bleak existence that would be entertaining enough to watch with popcorn if it didn't depict a life that's all too real for too many people."<ref>Christian Zilko, [https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/in-flames-review-cannes-1234865429/ "'In Flames' Review: Pakistani Horror Film Is a Cannes Winner"].''[[IndieWire]]'', May 19, 2023.</ref>
Christian Zilko of ''[[IndieWire]]'' wrote that "Zarrar Kahn’s genre-bending horror movie — which has the well-deserved honor of being the first Pakistani film to premiere in the Directors’ Fortnight in over four decades — is a Kafkaesque saga of niceties gone awry. What begins as a story of a poor family relying on the kindness of their community quickly turns into a hellish tale of how the ground is always shifting underneath you when all of your benefactors have an angle. Kahn's masterful use of red herrings and subtext creates an environment where nobody ever quite knows where they stand. It's a seedy ride through a bleak existence that would be entertaining enough to watch with popcorn if it didn't depict a life that's all too real for too many people."<ref>Christian Zilko, [https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/in-flames-review-cannes-1234865429/ "'In Flames' Review: Pakistani Horror Film Is a Cannes Winner"].''[[IndieWire]]'', May 19, 2023.</ref>

Manuel Betancourt of ''[[Variety]]'' wrote that "Anchored by a dizzying central performance by Nawal, whose screen presence draws viewers into Mariam’s mind-melding reality with great zeal, ''In Flames'' finely straddles the line between a bold genre exercise and a bruising portrait of contemporary Pakistan to deliver a welcome story about resistance and resilience. <ref>https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/in-flames-review-1235831644/</ref>

Shelagh Rowan-Legg of ''[[Screen Anarchy]]'' wrote that "''In Flames'' in an intense psychological horror, one that tightens its vice with a slow and deliberate intensity that challenges the viewer to feel what it's like to have your every move, every thought questioned, mocked, until you are backed into a corner with no way out.


For ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', Lovia Gyarkye wrote that "''In Flames'' teases out how the patriarchy — a large, unruly force — fractures the relationship between mother and daughter. Kahn depicts Mariam and Fariah's parallel experiences, observing how each of them tries to regain a sense of agency. Mariam uses a sympathetic driver to help her figure out what happened to Asad, while Fariah attempts to seduce a lawyer she hired to fight Nasir into lowering his legal fees. These scenes are tinged with a stressful desperation, as the women find themselves further constricted by society."<ref>Lovia Gyarkye, [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/in-flames-review-1235493648/ "‘In Flames’ Review: From Pakistan, a Vivid Psychological Thriller That Tackles Grief, Ghosts and the Patriarchy"]. ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', May 19, 2023.</ref>
For ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', Lovia Gyarkye wrote that "''In Flames'' teases out how the patriarchy — a large, unruly force — fractures the relationship between mother and daughter. Kahn depicts Mariam and Fariah's parallel experiences, observing how each of them tries to regain a sense of agency. Mariam uses a sympathetic driver to help her figure out what happened to Asad, while Fariah attempts to seduce a lawyer she hired to fight Nasir into lowering his legal fees. These scenes are tinged with a stressful desperation, as the women find themselves further constricted by society."<ref>Lovia Gyarkye, [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/in-flames-review-1235493648/ "‘In Flames’ Review: From Pakistan, a Vivid Psychological Thriller That Tackles Grief, Ghosts and the Patriarchy"]. ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', May 19, 2023.</ref>
Line 67: Line 74:


==Accolades==
==Accolades==

The film was selected to compete for the $10,000 [[Royal Bank of Canada|RBC]] Emerging Artist Award at the [[2023 Calgary International Film Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-16 |title=Calgary International Film Festival adds new competition to 2023 |url=https://livewirecalgary.com/2023/08/16/calgary-international-film-festival-adds-new-competition-to-2023/ |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=LiveWire Calgary |language=en-US}}</ref>
The film won the Golden Yusr Award for Best Picture at the [[Red Sea International Film Festival]] 2023. <ref>https://www.screendaily.com/news/zarrar-kahns-in-flames-wins-top-prize-at-red-sea-film-festival/5188626.article</ref>

It took home the top prize at the [[Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival]], the International Newcomer Award <ref>https://www.rnf.de/mannheim-heidelberg-gewinner-des-iffmh-stehen-fest-373984/</ref>

Further accolades include winning Best Feature at iSAAF 2023 <ref>https://www.surreynowleader.com/local-entertainment/awards-galore-during-isaaf-film-festival-a-path-breaking-journey-in-surrey-5887809</ref>


The film was shortlisted for the [[Directors Guild of Canada]]'s 2023 [[Jean-Marc Vallée DGC Discovery Award]].<ref>Taimur Sikander Mirza, [https://playbackonline.ca/2023/09/20/women-talking-leads-film-nominees-for-2023-dgc-awards/ "Women Talking leads film nominees for 2023 DGC Awards"]. ''[[Playback (magazine)|Playback]]'', September 20, 2023.</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/asia/pakistan-oscar-in-flames-mannheim-heidelberg-prize-1235810646/|title=Pakistan Oscar Contender ‘In Flames’ Wins Mannheim-Heidelberg Prize – Global Bulletin|publisher=Variety}}</ref>
The film was shortlisted for the [[Directors Guild of Canada]]'s 2023 [[Jean-Marc Vallée DGC Discovery Award]].<ref>Taimur Sikander Mirza, [https://playbackonline.ca/2023/09/20/women-talking-leads-film-nominees-for-2023-dgc-awards/ "Women Talking leads film nominees for 2023 DGC Awards"]. ''[[Playback (magazine)|Playback]]'', September 20, 2023.</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/asia/pakistan-oscar-in-flames-mannheim-heidelberg-prize-1235810646/|title=Pakistan Oscar Contender ‘In Flames’ Wins Mannheim-Heidelberg Prize – Global Bulletin|publisher=Variety}}</ref>

Revision as of 21:17, 7 February 2024

In Flames
Cannes release poster
Directed byZarrar Kahn
Written byZarrar Kahn
Produced byAnam Abbas
StarringRamesha Nawal
Bakhtawar Mazhar
CinematographyAigul Nurbulatova
Edited byCraig Scorgie
Music byKalaisan Kalaichelvan
Production
companies
CityLights Media
Other Memory Media
Fae Pictures
Distributed byXYZ Films
Release date
  • May 19, 2023 (2023-05-19) (Cannes)
Running time
98 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageUrdu

In Flames is a 2023 Pakistani-Canadian supernatural drama film written, directed and co-edited by Zarrar Kahn in his feature directorial debut.[1] The film stars Ramesha Nawal, Bakhtawar Mazhar, Adnan Shah Tipu, Mohammad Ali Hashmi and Omar Javaid.

Set in contemporary Karachi, the film centres on Mariam (Nawal), a young woman who becomes haunted by visions of the past, after the death of family's patriarch leaves her and her mother, Fariha (Mazhar) in a vulnerable social position in Pakistan's highly patriarchal society.[6]

In Flames had its world premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival on 19 May 2023 in the Directors' Fortnight section, where it competed for the Camera d'Or[2].[3][4]

This marked the return of Pakistan to Director's Fortnight after more than four decades [5]. The film received major critical acclaim[6] at Cannes, followed by a North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and winning Best Picture[7] at the Red Sea International Film Festival

It premiered in Pakistan on 20 October 2023 and received generally positive[8] from critics.

The film was selected as the Pakistani entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.[9]

Synopsis

Set in modern-day Karachi, the film opens with the death of the family patriarch. Mother and daughter find themselves in a precarious situation where their existence is ripped apart. In order to survive in a hostile world dominated by men, the two women will have to work together in the face of threats both real and supernatural.[10]

Cast

  • Ramesha Nawal as Mariam
  • Bakhtawar Mazhar as Fariha, Mariam's mother
  • Mohammad Ali Hashmi as Saleem
  • Adnan Shah Tipu as Uncle Nasir
  • Omar Javaid as Asad[11]

Release

Premiere and festival screenings

In Flames had its world premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in the Director's Fortnight section on 19 May 2023[12]. XYZ Films, a US-based firm, has taken up the international rights[13] for the film while North American distribution was acquired by Game Theory Films [14]. French rights of the film were acquired by The Jokers.

The film was invited at 2023 Toronto International Film Festival in the "Contemporary World Cinema" section and was screened on 14 September 2023 [15]. It was also selected as part of the 28th Busan International Film Festival's "A Window on Asian Cinema" section, screening on 7 October 2023.[16] Later in October, it was invited to the 57th Sitges Film Festival as part of the Official Fantastic section, held from 3 to 13 October 2024.

Production

Kahn, a Pakistani Canadian director who has worked in both countries, wrote the film as a commentary on patriarchy and sexism in Pakistan. [17]

He described the genre elements of the film being an "extension of the characters' experience...to be in the shoes of Mariam and Fariha, to be suffocated.. and how much power there is in their resistance.”[18]

The film was shot in Karachi in February 2022.[19]

Kahn produced the film through his company CityLights Media, which received funding from the Telefilm Talent to Watch program. Other Memory Media co-produced with Fae Pictures as the executive producers on the film. [20]

Critical response

The film currently has a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on thirteen reviews.[21]

Christian Zilko of IndieWire wrote that "Zarrar Kahn’s genre-bending horror movie — which has the well-deserved honor of being the first Pakistani film to premiere in the Directors’ Fortnight in over four decades — is a Kafkaesque saga of niceties gone awry. What begins as a story of a poor family relying on the kindness of their community quickly turns into a hellish tale of how the ground is always shifting underneath you when all of your benefactors have an angle. Kahn's masterful use of red herrings and subtext creates an environment where nobody ever quite knows where they stand. It's a seedy ride through a bleak existence that would be entertaining enough to watch with popcorn if it didn't depict a life that's all too real for too many people."[22]

Manuel Betancourt of Variety wrote that "Anchored by a dizzying central performance by Nawal, whose screen presence draws viewers into Mariam’s mind-melding reality with great zeal, In Flames finely straddles the line between a bold genre exercise and a bruising portrait of contemporary Pakistan to deliver a welcome story about resistance and resilience. [23]

Shelagh Rowan-Legg of Screen Anarchy wrote that "In Flames in an intense psychological horror, one that tightens its vice with a slow and deliberate intensity that challenges the viewer to feel what it's like to have your every move, every thought questioned, mocked, until you are backed into a corner with no way out.

For The Hollywood Reporter, Lovia Gyarkye wrote that "In Flames teases out how the patriarchy — a large, unruly force — fractures the relationship between mother and daughter. Kahn depicts Mariam and Fariah's parallel experiences, observing how each of them tries to regain a sense of agency. Mariam uses a sympathetic driver to help her figure out what happened to Asad, while Fariah attempts to seduce a lawyer she hired to fight Nasir into lowering his legal fees. These scenes are tinged with a stressful desperation, as the women find themselves further constricted by society."[24]

Allan Hunter of Screen Daily wrote that "In Flames is well-crafted, the sound design capturing the jarring sounds of the city at night which seem designed to set everyone on edge. Production designer Matti Malik fills Mariam's home with rich red earth and terracotta colours, lending it the warmth of a sanctuary – albeit one that is increasingly under threat. Kahn slightly drops the ball as he creates a muddled, jeopardy-driven climax that is in too much of a hurry to tie everything up. In the end, however, what lends this film distinction is the way it evolves into a story of female empowerment, and the bond between mother and daughter as they combat the pernicious evils of a patriarchal society."[25]

Siddhant Adlakha of JoySauce.com described the film as "a fine-tuned, socially oriented character drama in the shape of a supernatural thriller, with personal demons that take the form of cultural fanaticism, as a woman struggles to make her voice heard in a society hellbent on suffocating her."[26]

Accolades

The film won the Golden Yusr Award for Best Picture at the Red Sea International Film Festival 2023. [27]

It took home the top prize at the Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival, the International Newcomer Award [28]

Further accolades include winning Best Feature at iSAAF 2023 [29]

The film was shortlisted for the Directors Guild of Canada's 2023 Jean-Marc Vallée DGC Discovery Award.[30] [31]

See also

References

  1. ^ Radheyan Simonpillai, "Canada at Cannes: Zarrar Kahn looks to set the Croisette on fire with incendiary debut In Flames". The Globe and Mail, May 16, 2023.
  2. ^ https://www.quinzaine-cineastes.fr/en/film/in-flames Camera D'Or
  3. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (2023-04-18). "Cannes' Directors Fortnight Unveils 2023 Lineup, Including Films by Hong Sang-soo, Michel Gondry". Variety. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  4. ^ Joshi, Namrata. "Another Pakistani film tackling patriarchy to premiere in France". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  5. ^ https://www.arabnews.com/node/2306086/pakistan
  6. ^ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cannes-2023-hidden-gem-pakistan-film-in-flames-1235494012/
  7. ^ https://www.screendaily.com/news/zarrar-kahns-in-flames-wins-top-prize-at-red-sea-film-festival/5188626.article
  8. ^ https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1123666-we-dont-talk-about-mariam positive reviews
  9. ^ Verhoeven, Beatrice (October 27, 2023). "China Submits 'The Wandering Earth 2' As Its 2024 International Oscars Entry (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  10. ^ https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/in-flames-review-1235831644/
  11. ^ "'In Flames' cast, Adnan Shah Tipu, make waves at Cannes". The Express Tribune. 2023-05-20. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  12. ^ https://www.quinzaine-cineastes.fr/en/film/in-flames
  13. ^ https://variety.com/2023/film/news/xyz-films-new-visions-cannes-directors-fortnight-in-flames-1235586598/
  14. ^ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/in-flames-horror-movie-game-theory-films-1235638704/
  15. ^ https://tiff.net/events/in-flames
  16. ^ https://www.biff.kr/eng/html/program/prog_view.asp?idx=67637&c_idx=393&sp_idx=&QueryStep=2
  17. ^ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cannes-2023-hidden-gem-pakistan-film-in-flames-1235494012/
  18. ^ https://torontofilmcritics.com/features/zarrar-kahn-anam-abbas-on-in-flames-and-forging-new-territory-in-canadian-cinema/
  19. ^ Namrata Joshi, "Another Pakistani film tackling patriarchy to premiere in France". Al Jazeera, April 19, 2023.
  20. ^ https://playbackonline.ca/2023/09/14/in-flames-filmmakers-look-to-build-buzz-for-theatrical-release/#:~:text=In%20Flames%20was%20the%20first,project's%20U.S.%20distributor%20in%202021.
  21. ^ "In Flames - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  22. ^ Christian Zilko, "'In Flames' Review: Pakistani Horror Film Is a Cannes Winner".IndieWire, May 19, 2023.
  23. ^ https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/in-flames-review-1235831644/
  24. ^ Lovia Gyarkye, "‘In Flames’ Review: From Pakistan, a Vivid Psychological Thriller That Tackles Grief, Ghosts and the Patriarchy". The Hollywood Reporter, May 19, 2023.
  25. ^ Allan Hunter, "‘In Flames’: Cannes Review". Screen Daily, May 19, 2023.
  26. ^ Adlakha, Siddhant (2023-06-01). "The Asian Films You May Have Missed at Cannes". JoySauce. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  27. ^ https://www.screendaily.com/news/zarrar-kahns-in-flames-wins-top-prize-at-red-sea-film-festival/5188626.article
  28. ^ https://www.rnf.de/mannheim-heidelberg-gewinner-des-iffmh-stehen-fest-373984/
  29. ^ https://www.surreynowleader.com/local-entertainment/awards-galore-during-isaaf-film-festival-a-path-breaking-journey-in-surrey-5887809
  30. ^ Taimur Sikander Mirza, "Women Talking leads film nominees for 2023 DGC Awards". Playback, September 20, 2023.
  31. ^ "Pakistan Oscar Contender 'In Flames' Wins Mannheim-Heidelberg Prize – Global Bulletin". Variety.
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