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The film follows the teenaged Nisha as she struggles to accommodate both Norwegian and Pakistani cultures in her life.
Pakistani-Norwegian director Iram Haq’s film What People Will Saypremiered at Toronto Film Festival (TIFF) to a positive response from the audience.
The film, which takes some of its inspiration from the director’s life, is based on the life of Pakistani-origin teenager Nisha (Maria Mozhdah) living in Norway struggling to lead a dual life – one which follows her parents wishes of living the ‘Pakistani’ life, while also keeping up with the Norwegian culture.
https://youtu.be/b8_dBOzufWQ
Nisha’s fight for her freedom and her Pakistani parents’ effort to steer her towards their culture causes a conflict between the two and results in Nisha being sent to Pakistan to live with her extended family members.
The film shows the generation gap between the parents and daughter – especially the torment children of immigrant parents go through.
Haq explained that the film partly takes inspiration from her life: “It’s (what happened to Nisha) happened to me when I was a teenager… It is still happening (to young girls) in Norway and elsewhere.”
However, she says her film is not “a negative portrayal of Pakistan. I am talking about the subject.”
The film left quite a mark on the viewers at the festival. -DN
Iram Haq's WHAT WILL PEOPLE SAY at #TIFF17 is stirring film about an individual torn between two cultures. Emotional and moving.
— VMC (@VincenzoCheung) September 10, 2017
18. What will people say: first film to make me cry. Evoked such anger and frustration in me. Just wanted to scream at the parents! #TIFF17
— Cathrine Scott (@catgocrazy) September 10, 2017
