Dir bio: Adil Sher is a filmmaker and photographer originating from Pakistan. Over the past 18 years, he has successfully produced award winning films, television shows, commercials, and promotional content for digital platforms. He manages creative and business elements of content creation, demonstrating extensive experience across various formats. His films and photographs portray the everyday lived experiences of Pakistanis, blending strong storytelling with well-crafted frames and contrasting light and shadows. His feature length documentary Made in Pakistan was screened at various international film festivals. It received the coveted Audience Choice Award at the South Asian Film Festival in New York in 2009 and was also screened at the Jio Mami Mumbai Film Festival in 2009 and BAFTA in early 2010. The New York Times reviewed it as “a deft and transparently honest attempt”. Later that year, he appeared as a guest on the iconic British journalist David Frost’s talk show in London to speak about the film. His latest short film from 2023, What will you take with you, is part of the Official Selection of the Chicago South Asian Film Festival and the Global Independent Film Festival of India. His photograph of the Wazir Khan Mosque is part of the 2023/24 exhibition at the Como Museum of Art
Films shown in Divvy Film Festival 2024
What Will You Take With You
dir: Adil Sher
run time: 13:23 mins
Production year: 2023
fiction short
Synopsis: An utterly self-absorbed and emotionally immature father, based in Lahore, Pakistan, Khawaja, is proud of his accomplishments in raising two daughters, one married and one who has just gotten engaged at the start of this film. He’s convinced that parents never make wrong decisions and always do the best for their children when choosing partners for them. His wife, Rashida, sees things differently but largely agrees with his sentiments. In her view, when girls get married, they need to adjust to their circumstances and adapt to whatever situations are thrown at them. After the engagement party for the younger daughter is over, the two have a quiet moment over tea and celebrate the success of their parenting. Shortly after, Khawaja and Rashida find themselves in a terrible situation they don’t know how to get out off. They are devastated to see the effects of an unfortunate and untimely event on their daughters and how immediate family members, relatives with sons, are eager to acquire the assets Khawaja owns. The two blame each other for the situation they are in and neither of the two want to take responsibility for their actions. In a bid to recover the assets in time and resolve everything, they encounter an otherworldly character who makes them realise they haven’t been the best parents after all. Rashida feels helpless in spite of making life-long efforts to be the best daughter, wife, and mother she can be and is upset with Khawaja as she is needing to pay for his mistakes as well. The burden of guilt and failure compels Khawaja to alter his thinking drastically. He sorts out legal issues and finds ways to protect his daughters’ and his wive’s inheritance.
