Zaara Review

Zaara is a 2020 short film written and directed by Hassan Raza.

A poignant and emotionally driven short film, Zaara explores deep interpersonal levels of how any passion can have repercussions on both macro and micro levels.

Films about filmmaking can easily fall into a category of self-indulgence and in the opening moments of this piece it is easy to be fooled into thinking that this is the territory in which we are headed. However, that is simply not the case and instead we are given an engaging short which dives into some fairly large issues beyond just film.

With any film that is heavily character driven the acting must be spot on and this is easily one of the best parts of the film. The interplay especially between Zaara and Aslam, portrayed by Sonera Angel and Brij Mohan respectively feels perfect. Their straining father and daughter dynamic creates an instantly recognizable tension that only becomes worse as we go.

The script is another highlight here, knowing exactly what elements we need to see in order to develop the characters and their relationships further. For being a story with a lot of tension, it also understands when to provide some levity as well.

The decision to use black and white cinematography is another piece that might quickly alienate some but it speaks to the timeless nature that film carries with it. Zaara has a pure love for what she does to a fault and film will always have roots in the black and white aesthetic. It just works well here.

Taking things deeper into an exploration of racial tensions in the UK was an inspired choice and the framing for which this is done is a natural part of the story. Nothing in it feels forced or contrived in any manner.

By the end Zaara will leave you with a broken heart but also with a glimmer of hope for what the future will hold for these characters. It is not the ending that we get with most films in that so many things are still open-ended but looking through the history of film aren’t these some of the best ways to conclude things on?

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Cheers!

Daniel Hess

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