Showgirls of Pakistan is a 2020 documentary film by Lahore-born filmmaker Saad Khan, about the commercial Mujra industry of Pakistan.[1][2][3][4]
| Showgirls of Pakistan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Saad Khan |
| Written by | Saad Khan |
| Produced by | Saad Khan Anam Abbas |
| Cinematography | Anam Abbas |
| Edited by | Saad Khan Joey Chriqui |
Release date |
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Running time | 106 minutes |
Background
editMujra is a dance form that emerged during the Mughal empire, practiced by courtesans for the elite classes of Northern India.[2] The documentary explores the prejudice, censorship, and misogynistic climate in which Mujra dancers work in modern-day Punjab, Pakistan.[1][4]
Music
editThe soundtrack of the film is composed of old melodies of Lollywood films from the 1960s and 1970s.[5]
Synopsis
editShowgirls of Pakistan revolves around the lives of three performers, Afreen Khan, Uzma Khan, and Reema Jaan. Afreen's story follows her dancing in Lahore's public theaters. She dances on a dangerous platform where performers are beaten, harassed, kidnapped, or shot. Uzma performs in rural private parties and dance bars in Dubai. Finally, veteran dancer Reema, a transgender woman or khawaja sira, had a promising dancing career on stage but now struggles to find work.[6][7][8][9]
Reception
editThe film was premiered in the IDFA Competition 2020.[6] It was selected by VICE for its non-fiction collection The Short List, the film is also available on their YouTube channel.[3][10]
The film was positively reviewed by Foreign Policy,[1] Dawn,[9] Mint,[3] Business Doc Europe[8] and Upperstall.[2]
Controversy
editNick Fraser of BBC termed the documentary "Pak porn" during 17th Annual Hot Docs Forum. The director Saad Khan responded as "Nick saying it’s ‘Pak porn’ and slut shaming the women in the film is the same thing as my Dad going to those shows and then calling them whores".[11] Guy Lavie, channel manager for Israel's yesDocu and Brianna Little, development executive with Amazon Studios applauded the film, Brianna called the film "Incredible". Michael Kronish of Vice Canada called the film "a natural fit” for Vice.[12]
Showgirls of Pakistan won $10,000 Corus-Hot Docs Forum pitch prize during the 2016 Hot Docs Forum.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b c Mustefa, Zab. "'Showgirls of Pakistan' Doesn't Need Your Victim Narrative". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ^ a b c Khan, Omar Ali (2021-04-26). "Showgirls Of Pakistan". Upperstall.com. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ^ a b c "'Showgirls of Pakistan': Dial M for mujra". Mintlounge. 2021-03-02. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ^ a b Khan, Saad. "'We navigate a man's world in female bodies': Surviving as a modern mujra dancer in Pakistan". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ^ Showgirls of Pakistan | The Short List, retrieved 2022-03-15
- ^ a b www.oberon.nl, Oberon Amsterdam. "Showgirls of Pakistan director Saad Khan: "We are always the subjects, not the viewers of our own stories" | IDFA". www.idfa.nl. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ^ Ahmed, Musanna (2021-01-06). "IDFA 2020 Part 3: SHE HAD A DREAM, JACINTA, THE MOLE AGENT And SHOWGIRLS OF PAKISTAN". Film Inquiry. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ^ a b Santé, Nicole (2020-11-29). "IDFA First Appearance comp review: Showgirls of Pakistan". Business Doc Europe. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ^ a b Ansari, Noman (2021-04-25). "CINEMASCOPE: SHOW AND TELL". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
- ^ Showgirls of Pakistan | The Short List, retrieved 2022-03-11
- ^ Mallett, Whitney (2016-05-05). "The Changing Face of Documentary Distribution: The 17th Annual Hot Docs Forum | Filmmaker Magazine". Filmmaker Magazine | Publication with a focus on independent film, offering articles, links, and resources. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ^ a b "The 2016 Hot Docs Forum Report, part three". Retrieved 2022-03-15.
