Veteran actor Zia Mohyeddin
The Mehfil presents a screening of 'Some Lover to Some Beloved', a seven-year in the making documentary by Pakistani filmmaker Umar Riaz followed by a Q+A with the director.
'Some Lover to Some Beloved' is a seven-year in the making documentary chronicling the life and work of two extraordinary Pakistani artists - veteran actor Zia Mohyeddin ('Lawrence of Arabia', 'A Passage to India') and revolutionary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz. The work of the two men find congruence one night in Lahore, Pakistan on December 31st 2010 as Zia recites Faiz's poetry during his annual readings from Urdu literature. Weaving Faiz's poetry into an exploration of Zia's life, 'Some Lover to Some Beloved' explores the challenges facing artists in the contemporary Muslim world, the idea and implications of nationhood and what it means to persevere through difficulties even at the very end of your life .
The film premiered at the inaugural Pakistan International Film Festival in the spring of 2018.
Language: Urdu with English subtitles
Runtime: 100 mins
*****
“A stunningly photographed...remarkable feature documentary film...” - SG, The News International
"As a so-called ‘millennial’ who’s not deeply involved with Urdu language, its prose and poetry, he made me yearn for the Beloved, where the beloved in point is Urdu literature. That’s some success." - Rahul Aijaz, The Express Tribune
Umar Riaz is a Student Academy Award nominated filmmaker, born and raised in Lahore, Pakistan and currently based in New York City and Lahore. In 2009, he graduated with a degree in English Literature and Cinema Studies from New York University. He then graduated from the Graduate Film Program at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts where he was awarded an Ang Lee Scholarship for 'exceptionally talented graduate film students.' His award-winning films have been screened at film festivals internationally including at the 65th Locarno Film Festival, the 20th Raindance Film Festival, the Woodstock Film Festival, Cinequest, and HBO and BET's Urbanworld Film Festival. Other work by Umar Riaz can be viewed at www.umarriaz.com
Tickets are £7.50 and available here.