Presented by Bill Kenwright
Written and directed by Sarmad Masud
BASED ON A TRUE STORY – IN UK CINEMAS FROM 15 SEPTEMBER 2017
British-Pakistani director, Sarmad Masud, first envisioned his startling debut when he heard of the true story of a group of young women who survived a siege on their home by relatives in rural Pakistan, culminating in them having to defend their land from a militia of 200 bandits. Their feat was almost unheard of and they were swiftly elevated to the position of folk heroes. When Sarmad heard their story he instantly knew this was the film he needed to make as his debut – a violent contemporary Western but grounded in realism and crucially with a feminist theme.
The Film came together when he met Theatre Impresario, Film Producer, and Everton Football Club Chairman, Bill Kenwright, and pitched him the project, 20 minutes later, Kenwright shook Sarmad’s hand there and said, “Let’s do it”. And they did.
Shooting in Pakistan was challenging in the extreme, with the crew negotiating their way through one of the most heavily armed civilian regions on earth where kidnap and ransom is an ever-present risk for foreigners. Their issues culminated when an embittered extra returned to set and opened fire on the production, although fortunately no one was hurt.
Synopsis:
A young woman called Nazo and her mother and sister are called to defend their home after a bitter family feud leads to her father’s incarceration. In their isolated farmhouse in Pakistan, the women find themselves surrounded by armed men hired by their Uncle Mehrban to take back the land. When Nazo’s resistance leaves two of the men dead, an enraged Mehrban call in a local ragtag militia – two hundred armed bandits. But even with only a handful of bullets left, Nazo refuses to give in…
Sarmad Masud’s short film, Two Dosas, funded by Film London was voted best film in their London Calling Plus category, judged by David Yates. The film was long listed for both a BAFTA and an Oscar as well as numerous festival awards. Sam also wrote and directed Adha Cup, the first Urdu language drama commissioned by Channel Four and went on to develop it as a six part TV series with the BBC.
MY PURE LAND is produced by Bill Kenwright, whose recent releases include Another Mother’s Son, Cheri (Stephen Frears), and Broken (Rufus Norris), which won the Best British Independent Movie at the BIFAS in 2013.
MY PURE LAND stars Suhaee Abro, Eman Malik, Syed Tanveer-Hussain, Razia Malik, Atif Akhtar Bhatti, Tayyab Azfal, Ahsen Murad.
Watch th etrailer here:-
“EXTRAORDINARY, DEEPLY STIRRING AND BREATHTAKING MASTERCLASS FILMMAKING THAT WILL ROCK YOU TO YOUR CORE”
* * * * *
Oasisawais
“TAUT AND EXCITING FEATURE DEBUT”
Wendy Ide, Screendaily
“EXCITING, TENSE, UPLIFTING AND TRAGIC – GRIPS YOU RIGHT UP UNTIL ITS FINAL MOMENTS“
Starburst Magazine (8/10)
“AN ENGROSSING, ACTION-PACKED SHOOT-‘EM-UP – DEEPLY EFFECTING”
* * * *
The Skinny
“A GLORIOUS PAEAN TO THE STRENGTH OF FEMALE RESISTANCE”
* * * *
One Room With A View
