The Glassworker (Urdu: شیشہ گر, romanized: Sheesha Gar) is a 2024 Pakistani animated anti-war romantic drama film produced by Mano Animation Studios. The film is directed by Usman Riaz (in his directorial debut) with a screenplay by Moya O'Shea from a story by O'Shea and Riaz. The film is produced by Khizer Riaz and Manuel Cristóbal.[2][3] Featuring anime-influenced animation, it is Pakistan's first hand-drawn animated feature film.[4][5]
| The Glassworker | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Usman Riaz |
| Screenplay by | Moya O’Shea |
| Story by | Usman Riaz Moya O'Shea |
| Produced by | Khizer Riaz Manuel Cristóbal |
| Starring | see below |
| Cinematography | Usman Riaz |
| Edited by | Jose Manuel Jimenez |
| Music by | Usman Riaz Carmine Diflorio |
Production company | Mano Animation Studios |
| Distributed by |
|
Release dates |
|
Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Language | Urdu |
| Box office | Rs. 30 million[1] |
The film premiered at the 2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival on 10 June and was released in theatres in Pakistan on 26 July 2024.[6][7][8]
Plot
editVincent Oliver, the son of master glassworker Tomas Oliver, lives in the seaside town of Waterfront, renowned for its fertile soil and silicon-rich sand. The town becomes a battleground between two nations. Djinns, fire spirits, play a significant role in the story.
As an adult, Vincent prepares for his first glasswork exhibition and finds a letter from his childhood friend, Alliz Amano, who he loved. The letter recounts their past: Vincent, home-schooled and trained in glassworking by his pacifist father, meets Alliz, the daughter of Colonel Amano. Alliz aspires to be a violinist, and despite Tomas’s disapproval, Vincent and Alliz grow close.
War breaks out, and locals, including Vincent’s rival Malik, join the military. Tomas is coerced into making advanced glass rectifiers for the military. As the war escalates, Malik confesses his love for Alliz, creating tension between her and Vincent. During a bombing raid, Vincent and Alliz argue, leading to their estrangement.
Alliz’s father goes missing in action, prompting her to find solace in music and write her own piece. She invites Vincent to her performance, but he is barred entry and watches from the roof. Seeing soldiers approach the college, Vincent leaves to confront them. Inside, Malik returns with the injured Colonel Amano, earning Alliz’s gratitude and a kiss, which Vincent witnesses.
Devastated, Vincent sabotages the rectifiers to stop the war but regrets it. During a bombing raid, Vincent’s actions inadvertently cause Tomas to lose his arm. Alliz and her family’s fate remains unknown as they are caught in a bombing while departing by train.
In the present, Vincent finishes reading Alliz’s letter, where she professes her love for him. At his glass exhibition, Vincent is distracted by a blue flame, a recurring motif. Back at the workshop, he attempts to burn the letter, but blue flames transform it into a vision of Alliz. The film ends with Vincent and Alliz reunited on the beach, their hands joined by a blue flame.
Voice cast
edit| Character | Voice actor | |
|---|---|---|
| Urdu | English | |
| Tomas Oliver | Khaled Anam | Art Malik |
| Vincent Oliver | Mooroo | Sacha Dhawan |
| Alliz Amano | Mariam Riaz Paracha | Anjli Mohindra |
| Colonel Amano | Ameed Riaz | Tony Jayawardena |
| Young Vincent | Mahum Moazzam | Teresa Gallagher |
| Nadia Amano | Faiza Kazi | Mina Anwar |
| Malik Khan | Dino Ali | Sham Ali |
| Penni | Aysha Sheikh | Maya Saroya |
| Principal Bhatti | Usman Riaz | Nila Aalia |
| Professor Ansari | Khalifa Sajeeruddin | Alex Jordan |
| Mrs. Popolzai | Aysha Sheikh | Bex Wood |
Release
editThe film premiered worldwide at the 2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival on 10 June 2024[9] and then was released in Pakistan theaters on 26 July 2024, distributed by Geo Films and Mandviwalla Entertainment.[10] It also screened at the Hiroshima Animation Season 2024 on 17 August 2024 and competed in Feature Competition.[11]
Reception
editThe Glassworker earned Rs. 10 million in its opening weekend in Pakistan.[12]
Mohammad Kamran Jawaid of Dawn praised the animation, story, and film's anti-war message.[13] He further wrote, "Usman Riaz’s The Glassworker is a visually stunning but thematically heavy film about love and relationships that chooses reality over fantasy." Alizee Ali Khan, of Aaj News praised the film, stating that “the story is about the lives of two characters, Vincent Oliver and Alliz Amano, who are inextricably linked to each other while the whirlwind of an approaching war engulfs them. ‘The Glassworker’ treats the subjects of life and love delicately without losing their depth, with magnificent imagery and a well-written story.”[14]
Ricardo Gallegos of La Estatuilla wrote, "Overall, the animation delivers what it promises, but at the character level it is not always completely polished, as there is no fluidity and definition in certain movements. These imperfections also appear in the dubbing department, as some cast members are too monotonous in their performance and therefore fail to convey the emotion of their characters, especially during key scenes."[15]
Accolades
edit| Award | Ceremony date | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annecy International Animation Film Festival | 15 June 2024 | Contrechamp Grand Prix | The Glassworker | Nominated | [16] |
| Sitges Film Festival | 13 October 2024 | Best Animated Feature Film | Nominated | [17] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "'The Glassworker' crosses a new milestone, earns Rs3 crore revenue". The News International. 14 August 2024. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Pride of Pakistan: 'The Glassworker' Filmmakers Usman and Khizer Riaz Discuss Their Groundbreaking Production". www.animationmagazine.net. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ Shackleton, Liz (21 May 2023). "'Delhi Crime' Producer Apoorva Bakshi Boards Pakistan's First Miyazaki-Style Animated Feature, 'The Glassworker'". Deadline. Archived from the original on 5 August 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ Imaan Sheikh (5 February 2016). "This Is "The Glassworker", Pakistan's First Fully Hand-Drawn Animated Film". Buzz Feed. Archived from the original on 8 February 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
- ^ Ansari, Hasan (27 January 2016). "Usman Riaz's 'The Glassworker': Pakistan's first animated film". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
- ^ "Mano Animation Makes History with 'The Glassworker,' Pakistan's First 2D Feature". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "Annecy Selection 'The Glassworker' Unveils First Trailer, Sets Cannes Market, Pakistan Release Dates (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. 26 April 2024. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ "International Oscar Race: Pakistan Selects Hand-Drawn Animation 'The Glassworker'". Variety.
- ^ "Feature Film in Competition – Contrechamp 2: The Glassworker". Annecy International Animation Film Festival. 8 June 2024. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "Geo Films partners with Mano Animation Studios for animated movie 'The Glassworker'". www.geo.tv. 24 April 2024. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ "Feature Competition: The Glassworker【Guest: Usman Riaz】". Hiroshima Animation Festival. 17 August 2024. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ "'The Glassworker' makes successful opening weekend, rakes in Rs10m". The News International. 30 July 2024. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ^ Kamran Jawaid, Mohammad (4 August 2024). "THE ICON REVIEW: FRAGILE, HANDLE WITH CARE". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Khan, Alizee Ali (30 July 2024). "'The Glassworker' review: where love shines through shadows of war". Aaj English TV. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Gallegos, Ricardo (10 June 2024). "Crítica: "The Glassworker", un relato de arte, amor imposible y guerra (Annecy 2024)" [Review: “The Glassworker,” a tale of art, impossible love and war (Annecy 2024)]. La Estatuilla (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ Roxborough, Scott. "'Memoir of a Snail' Wins Annecy Film Festival". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ Romero, Miguel Ángel (10 September 2024). "Sitges 2024 anuncia su programación definitiva: las mejores películas de terror que podremos ver este año". Cinemanía (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.