Grants & Awards
Neither the Veil, Nor the Four Walls
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Fiction
Date Awarded: Winter 2008
Directors(s): Afia Nathaniel
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Producer(s): Cordelia Stephens
Company Credit: Belladonna Productions
Location: Pakistan
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Film Status: Development
About the Film:
In rural Pakistan, a young mother goes on an extraordinary and dangerous journey to save her eight year old daughter from an arranged marriage.
Inspired by true events in Pakistan, Neither the Veil, Nor the Four Walls is about a young mother, Allah Rakhi, married to a much older man Daulat Khan. Allah Rakhi’s village in the north is being terrorised by the powerful Tor Gul, who has returned from war in Afghanistan. One day Daulat Khan is summoned by Tor Gul who proposes an alliance between them by marrying Zainab, Daulat Khan’s eight year old daughter. Daulat Khan is forced to go forward with this arranged marriage. Allah Rakhi’s worst fear comes true, as Zainab’s life, which has barely begun is about to end. On the eve of Zainab’s wedding day, Allah Rakhi pulls off a daring escape. On the road, Allah Rakhi meets an adventurous trucker, Sohail, whose destiny entwines with hers, kindling a forbidden attraction. Carefully dodging the fearsome, far-reaching influence of Tor Gul that awaits them at every check point, Sohail and Allah Rakhi embark on an epic journey through the sweeping landscape of Pakistan. An element of mystery and tragedy hangs in the balance as Allah Rakhi tries to test the limits of her new-found freedom and find a better future for her daughter.