Debut: ‘Zafar’ A Moving Short By Directing Duo Aqsa Altaf and John X. Carey
Directing team partners Aqsa Altaf and John X. Carey’s 2022 short film Zafar gives an earnest look at a more common immigrant experience rarely explored in films. Zafar (Ismail Bashey) is a Pakistani immigrant in Los Angeles dealing with the burden of demanding customers and the responsibility of helping financially support his parents back in Pakistan. Bashey’s exceptional performance and expressions ground the story as we follow the titular character’s stressful work evening, and the stunning visual shots by Altaf and Carey compliment the story’s tone spectacularly.
The film provides an insight into a more modern immigrant experience. Zafar is a ride-share and food delivery driver working to support himself in America while still assisting in financially supporting his parents in Pakistan. A call from his mother (Samiya Khan) while working on a delivery explains his sick father’s condition is worsening, and their only option for treatment is a nearby private hospital they cannot afford. Zafar says his life’s savings can help and will wire it after his delivery. We follow as he rushes to make the delivery but runs into obstacles along the way, including a demanding customer who adds to the night’s stress. The film’s inciting incident occurs in its final moments when it’s entirely put into perspective for the viewer the hardships and sacrifices many immigrant people face working toward a piece of the quote-unquote American Dream.
Zafar has a lot working for it as a film. The film’s color palette is stunning and utilizes background lights wonderfully to balance some of the darker frames. The film’s visuals and color tones are captivating and fitting with the dramatic tension that builds up through Zafar’s evening as we wonder what is happening with his parents in Pakistan. The film only ever follows Zafar, and we only hear his mother through phone conversations, allowing us as viewers to feel the helplessness Zafar feels being so far away from home during a difficult time. The performance by Ismail Bashey is the film’s shining moment. His facial expressions and natural reactions convey such emotion without him having to say much keeping the audience connected.
Inspiration for the film occurred after the directors made a commercial for a ride-share and food delivery company and spoke to many drivers about the stress of the job. Some of the stories to resonate most with Altaf were that of immigrants working the app service to help financially support families back home. Altaf related to the experiences as she worked to support her own family while pursuing filmmaking after immigrating to the United States. Zafar is a Hope St. Company and Muddy Water film and was produced by Amina Nada, Aqsa Altaf, and John X. Carey. The film has been a success in the film festival circuit being officially selected for the 2022 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, and Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.
