This is the story of a struggle. The story of the struggle for survival that women around the world lead on a daily basis. The same color and smell in any corner of the world for the resistance women endure and the psychological traumas they go through when only countries and individuals change. The opening film of the 26th International Film Festival, ‘Rehana Mariam Noor’, a Bangladeshi film, puts forward a similar theme. The film, directed by Abdullah Mohammad Saad, premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.
Rehana Mariam Noor’s specialty is the meticulous and realistic portrayal of Asmeri Haque along with the subject she deals with.
Who is Rehana Mariam Noor?
Rehana is a professor at a medical college in Dhaka. She is a young woman living alone with her daughter without the help of her husband. She responds uncompromisingly to the problems she faces in her personal life and workplace. Rehana stands with her to respond to sexual harassment by a classmate against a student in her class.
The film beautifully explores the resistance and isolation of the surviving women and the opposition they face from society. Rehana Mariam Noor symbolizes the efforts of women from all over the world to break down the frameworks set by patriarchal society.
Abdullah Mohammad Saad’s film language should be mentioned along with the theme. Close-up shots and jump cuts clearly capture the character’s internal conflicts. The director has also been able to make efficient use of natural lighting and narrow spaces. The pain and resentment of many women, like Rahane, who is trapped within the system, lingers in every frame of the film.
The subtle sound design also transplants Rehana Mariam Noor into the big canvas of world cinema.