Sarmad Khoosat’s ‘Kamli’ Promises to be a Film Festival Winner

Watching Kamli’s teaser just once shows that it’s a sensitive film, an art film, and a film that explores things we may not bring up in polite conversation.

Saba Qamar, Sania Saeed and Nimra Bucha mark each scene they’re in, their persona unmistakeable, even to the untrained eye. Which is the Kamli of the story? Or is it perhaps us?

The tone and the visuals remind one of other film festival darlings like “Ship of Theseus” or “Tree of Life”. It looks like a film that will take its time. It looks like a film that will ask as much of the viewer as the viewer asks of it.

Patience, alas, is in short supply these days. One can only hope that Kamli gets the love it deserves in Pakistan. Sarmad’s previous film Zindagi Tamasha is yet to even be screened in its homeland.