In Flames - SCREENSHOT: Asia

Announced by the University of Pittsburgh

Event Description:
SCREENSHOT: ASIA is a joint project from the Film and Media Studies Program and the Asian Studies Center that brings together students, faculty, and community members to create a shared awareness of Asian and Asian American experiences through contemporary film and media. Using film, video, and other on-screen arts, the series provides a forum to learn about Asian art, whether it is a classic work of cinema, a film by an emerging director, or a documentary addressing contemporary social concerns. The programming allows us to reflect on the importance of visual arts, current arts technology, and the place of cultural experiences in a global educational experience.

Film Description:
"Zarrar Kahn’s first feature film asks the question: “What could be worse than the supernatural thing that stalks you?” After the death of Miriam (Ramesha Nawal)’s father, she and her mother Fariha (Bakhtawar Mazhar) are forced into a highly vulnerable position without their patriarch. At the same time, Miriam feels scrutinized and stalked by a myriad of forces, including men who sees her as easy prey and visions of violence that may be supernatural forces. This increasing claustrophobic nightmare points to Pakistan’s gender hierarchy that leaves women exposed and susceptible to violence. This bleak, incredibly relevant film debuted at Cannes in 2023 and was called “a revealing slice of social realism as well as a horror film” (Guardian)."