52 Films by Women Vol 3. 30. WHAT WILL PEOPLE SAY? (Director: Iram Haq)
Children of migrants are caught between two cultures: the culture of the land that their parents left behind and the culture of their adoptive country. These can be at odds. In the worst case, one culture can despise another, thinking of the host as corrupt and morally bankrupt. This even before religion enters into the discussion. This tension is explored in Norway-based, Pakistan migrant Iram Haq’s second film as writer-director, What Will People Say? (Hva vil folk si?) A contemporary story – mobile phones and social media play a part – it is based on Haq’s own experience of being sent against her will to Pakistan for a year aged 14 in 1990. Haq’s hero is Nisha (Maria Mozhdah) a sixteen year old girl born to Pakistani parents but living in Norway. At the start of the film we see her running in the street as her father (Adil Hussain) moves from room to room checking on his sleeping children. Eventually he finds her in bed. Father adores Nisha, whom he gives a 1000 krone no...