The World Unseen
Encyclopedia
The World Unseen is a 2008 historical drama film written and directed by Shamim Sarif
, adapted from her own novel. The film is set in 1950s Cape Town
, South Africa
during the beginning of apartheid. The film stars Lisa Ray
and Sheetal Sheth
as two Indian South African
women who fall in love in a racist, sexist, and homophobic society.
Ray and Sheth also star together in another Shamim Sarif movie, I Can't Think Straight
, released in November 2007.
The World Unseen was made with the assistance of the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa, which took a minority equity stake in the film.
Miriam demurely follows conventions and makes no demands on life. Her world is confined to being a doting mother to her three children and a subservient wife to her chauvinistic husband Omar.
Amina has a covert business partner Jacob. By virtue of being ‘coloured’ he is not allowed to own a business. Jacob fancies a local white postmistress Madeleine but their desire to pursue a relationship is thwarted by the indignities and injustices of the prevalent laws.
Omar’s sister Rehmat marries a white man against rules that forbid mixed marriages. When she needs protection from police Amina shelters her. Amina’s charm and strength of character captivate Miriam. When Amina accepts a farming job in her backyard Miriam secretly rejoices at the opportunity to connect with her. Amina notices Miriam’s inherent kindness and silent dedication and the mutual attraction between them grows. They bare their hearts to each other and their emotions get entangled. They contrive another reason to meet – driving lessons.
The inescapable social distance between them makes them question their feelings but in the midst of hatred and oppression their only refuge is love.
In the resplendent South African landscape with retro music strewn in the background The World Unseen explores Miriam’s relationship with Amina and how it empowers her to make personal choices that change her world.
including Best Director and Best Writing Team.
Shamim Sarif
Shamim Sarif is a novelist and filmmaker of South Asian and South African heritage. Her roots inspired her to write her award-winning debut novel, The World Unseen, which explores issues of race, gender and sexuality, which she later adapted into a film starring Lisa Ray, shown at the London Film...
, adapted from her own novel. The film is set in 1950s Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
during the beginning of apartheid. The film stars Lisa Ray
Lisa Ray
Lisa Ray , born 4 April 1972, is a Canadian actress and former model.-Early life:Lisa Ray was born in Toronto to a Bengali Indian father and a Polish mother and grew up in the suburb of Etobicoke...
and Sheetal Sheth
Sheetal Sheth
Sheetal Sheth is an actress who is known for her wide range of roles in an impressive body of work in film, television, and theater. She has starred in many feature films, perhaps best known for starring opposite Albert Brooks in Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World...
as two Indian South African
Indian South Africans
Indian South Africans are people of Indian descent living in South Africa and mostly live in and around the city of Durban, making it 'the largest 'Indian' city outside India'. Most Indians in South Africa are descendents of migrants from colonial India during late 19th-century through early...
women who fall in love in a racist, sexist, and homophobic society.
Ray and Sheth also star together in another Shamim Sarif movie, I Can't Think Straight
I Can't Think Straight
I Can't Think Straight is a 2007 romance movie about a London-based Jordanian of Palestinian descent, Tala, who is preparing for an elaborate wedding. A turn of events causes her to have an affair and subsequently fall in love with another woman, Leyla, a British Indian. The movie is distributed by...
, released in November 2007.
The World Unseen was made with the assistance of the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa, which took a minority equity stake in the film.
Synopsis
In 1950’s South Africa, a land torn apart by apartheid, Amina epitomizes individuality and freedom. She runs the Location Café, a haven of fun, food and festivities open to all. Amina defines her own laws and lives on her own terms undeterred by the reproving police and the disparaging Indian community.Miriam demurely follows conventions and makes no demands on life. Her world is confined to being a doting mother to her three children and a subservient wife to her chauvinistic husband Omar.
Amina has a covert business partner Jacob. By virtue of being ‘coloured’ he is not allowed to own a business. Jacob fancies a local white postmistress Madeleine but their desire to pursue a relationship is thwarted by the indignities and injustices of the prevalent laws.
Omar’s sister Rehmat marries a white man against rules that forbid mixed marriages. When she needs protection from police Amina shelters her. Amina’s charm and strength of character captivate Miriam. When Amina accepts a farming job in her backyard Miriam secretly rejoices at the opportunity to connect with her. Amina notices Miriam’s inherent kindness and silent dedication and the mutual attraction between them grows. They bare their hearts to each other and their emotions get entangled. They contrive another reason to meet – driving lessons.
The inescapable social distance between them makes them question their feelings but in the midst of hatred and oppression their only refuge is love.
In the resplendent South African landscape with retro music strewn in the background The World Unseen explores Miriam’s relationship with Amina and how it empowers her to make personal choices that change her world.
Cast
- Lisa RayLisa RayLisa Ray , born 4 April 1972, is a Canadian actress and former model.-Early life:Lisa Ray was born in Toronto to a Bengali Indian father and a Polish mother and grew up in the suburb of Etobicoke...
as Miriam, a wife and mother who has recently immigrated to South Africa. - Sheetal ShethSheetal ShethSheetal Sheth is an actress who is known for her wide range of roles in an impressive body of work in film, television, and theater. She has starred in many feature films, perhaps best known for starring opposite Albert Brooks in Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World...
as Amina, a free spirited café owner. - Parvin DabasParvin DabasParvin Dabas , also known as Parvin Dabbas, is an Indian actor and model.-Background:Parvin Dabas was born into a Jaat family of Dabas Gotra. His family is from Kanjhawala, Delhi...
as Omar, Miriam's chauvinistic and frustrated husband and one of the film's primary antagonists. - David DennisDavid Dennis (actor)David Dennis is a South African actor. He is best known for his role as Sol in the SABC1 TV series Soul City. Dennis also played a significant role in the TV series Charlie Jade as police detective Sew Sew Tukarrs....
as Jacob, Amina's business partner, who is ColouredColouredIn the South African, Namibian, Zambian, Botswana and Zimbabwean context, the term Coloured refers to an heterogenous ethnic group who possess ancestry from Europe, various Khoisan and Bantu tribes of Southern Africa, West Africa, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaya, India, Mozambique,...
. - Grethe Fox as Madeleine Smith, Jacob's WhiteWhite peopleWhite people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
love interest who runs the local post office. - Colin Moss as De Witt, a policeman and one of the film's primary antagonists.
- Nandana SenNandana Sen-Early life:Sen was born in Kolkata, West Bengal to a Bengali Hindu family. She is the daughter of Nobel Laureate and Bharat Ratna economist Amartya Sen and Padma Shri winner Nabanita Dev Sen, one of the most prominent authors in the contemporary Bengali literature....
as Rehmat - Natalie Becker as Farah, Omar's lover
- Rajesh Gopie as Sadru
- Bernard WhiteBernard WhiteBernard White is a Sri Lankan-born English actor, screenwriter and film director. A 1977 graduate of Detroit Catholic Central High School, he graduated from Michigan State University. He was previously married to American actress Julia Campbell and French actress Nathalie Canessa-White...
as Mr. Harjan - Avantika Akerkar as Mrs. Harjan
- Amber Rose RevahAmber Rose RevahAmber Rose Revah is best known for her roles in From Paris With Love and Aazaan.-Career:She played Hala Hussein, Saddam Hussein's daughter in BBC/HBO BAFTA nominated series House of Saddam. Later she switched to main film roles and starred along side John Travolta in From Paris With Love...
as Begum - Leonie Casanova as Doris, a waitress at Amina's café
Critics
The film was very positively reviewed by the gay & lesbian media, with AfterEllen.com calling it "one of the best-conceived queer films of the past year - a sincere, beautifully realized vision of love and resistance in an intolerant world." The movie also enjoyed a warm reception in South Africa, winning 11 awards at the SAFTAsSouth African Film and Television Awards
The South African Film and Television Awards , also known as the Golden Horns, are awards for film and television presented in South Africa and first given out in 2006. They are awarded by the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa ....
including Best Director and Best Writing Team.
Awards and Honours
| Awards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Award | Category | Name | Outcome |
| South African Film and Television Awards South African Film and Television Awards The South African Film and Television Awards , also known as the Golden Horns, are awards for film and television presented in South Africa and first given out in 2006. They are awarded by the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa .... |
Best Director | Shamim Sarif | Won |
| Best Cinematographer | Mike Downie | Won | |
| Best Supporting Actor | David Dennis | Won | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Natalie Becker | Won | |
| Best Ensemble Cast | The World Unseen | Won | |
| Best Writing | Shamim Sarif | Won | |
| Best Editor | Ronelle Loots, David Martin | Won | |
| Best Production Designer | Tanya van Tonder | Won | |
| Best Costume Designer | Danielle Knox | Won | |
| Best Make Up/Hair Stylist | Caera O'Shaughneey | Won | |
| Best Sound Designer | Barry Donnelly | Won | |
| Phoenix International Film Festival | World Cinema Best Director | Shamim Sarif | Won |
| Clip Film Festival, USA | Best Director, Feature | Shamim Sarif | Won |
| Grand Canarias G&L International Film Festival | Best Actress | Sheetal Sheth | Won |
| Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival | Audience Award, Best Feature | The World Unseen | Won |
| Verzaubert Film Festival | Silver Medal | The World Unseen | Won |
| Paris Feminist & Lesbian Film Festival | Audience Award, Best Feature | The World Unseen | Won |
| Rehoboth Film Festival | Best Debut Feature | The World Unseen | Won |
Releases
- UK DVD - April 10, 2009
- UK theatrical: Apr 3rd, 2009
- SOUTH AFRICA - Feb 13th, 2009
- GERMANY, AUSTRIA, SWITZERLAND & LICHTENSTEIN - Jan 15th, 2009
- USA & Canada - NOV. 7th, 2008