The World Unseen
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Shamim Sarif
Grethe Fox
Nandana Sen
Parvin Dabas
Sheetal Sheth
Lisa Ray
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Free-spirited Amina has broken all the rules of her own conventional Indian community in South Africa by running a café, a safe haven of laughter, music and home-cooked food; a 'grey area' for those who fall outside the strict 'black and white' rules of the apartheid-led government. Café regulars include Amina's feisty waitress Doris, her gentle 'Colored' business partner Jacob and the sparky White local postmistress Madeleine. Long accustomed to the racial barriers of the country and its new laws, Madeleine and Jacob nevertheless share a budding attraction. Miriam, on the other hand, is a doting mother to her children and a demure and subservient wife to her chauvinistic, frustrated husband, Omar. Quietly intelligent, Miriam has never assumed that she may have choices in life. When Miriam meets Amina, their unexpected attraction throws them both off balance. Although Miriam manages to subdue her fascination with unconventional Amina, she finds herself slowly inspired to confront familiar and familial constraints. Shortly after their encounter Miriam moves to an isolated life in the country, but even here apartheid is placing its cruel footprint on society, and these injustices bring the two women together again, cementing the basis of their growing feelings. Meanwhile Jacob decides to pursue a love affair of his own and he and Madeleine begin a tentative, touching relationship. But the best intentions of both are overcome by practical challenges and indignities of simply spending time together. Even the fearless Amina, faced with the strength of her feelings and with the reality of Miriam's situation, starts doubting herself. And Miriam finds herself making some courageous choices that will change her own life forever.
Director
Shamim Sarif
Cast
Grethe Fox
Nandana Sen
Parvin Dabas
Sheetal Sheth
Lisa Ray
Colin Moss
Roderick Priestley
Natalie Becker
Rajesh Gopie
Amber Rose Revah
Bernard White
Avantika Akerkar
David Dennis
Crew
Daisy Allsop
Richard Blackford
Ferdi Burger
Mike Downie
Rajendra Hegde
Lisa Tchenguiz Imerman
Hanan Kattan
Hanan Kattan
Danielle Knox
Danielle Knox
David Martin
Brigid Olen
Carole Prentice
Katherine Priestley
Shamim Sarif
Shamim Sarif
Christa Schamberger
Mito Skellern
Tanya Van Tonder
Shigeru Umebayashi
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Limited Release in United States November 7, 2008
Released in United States Fall November 7, 2008
Released in United States on Video May 4, 2010
Released in United States 2007
Released in United States June 2008
Released in United States July 2008
Shown at London Film Festival (World Cinema) October 17-November 1, 2007.
Shown at San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (Showcase) June 19-29, 2008.
Shown at Outfest: Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival July 9-21, 2008.
Based on the novel "The World Unseen" by Shamim Sarif; published by Womens Press Ltd January 2002.
Limited Release in United States November 7, 2008
Released in United States Fall November 7, 2008
Released in United States on Video May 4, 2010
Released in United States 2007 (Shown at London Film Festival (World Cinema) October 17-November 1, 2007.)
Released in United States June 2008 (Shown at San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (Showcase) June 19-29, 2008.)
Released in United States July 2008 (Shown at Outfest: Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival July 9-21, 2008.)
