By Rohan Rai
Toronto
Bangladeshi filmmaker Rubaiyat Hossain, known for Made in Bangladesh, returns with a new film that explores the pressure placed on women as they prepare for marriage. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September.
Known for making films about women and the challenges they face, Hossain’s latest film looks at the expectations placed on brides to look and behave perfectly on their wedding day. The story follows Zaineen (Zaineen Chowdhury Karim), a young woman preparing to marry Aarman, a handsome and wealthy man whom everyone sees as the perfect husband.
During a visit with a bridal consultant, Zaineen is asked a simple question: “Happy?” Looking at herself in the mirror, dressed in heavy makeup, carefully styled hair and jewellery, Zaineen struggles to answer.
As the wedding gets closer, her worries begin to grow. She becomes concerned about her weight and skin and has trouble sleeping. At first, everyone tells her that these are normal worries for a bride.
But then strange things begin to happen. Zaineen starts having disturbing dreams and visions of catfish, snakes and bloody bodies. She also discovers unexplained scratches on her stomach and begins to feel as if something is moving underneath her skin.
Zaineen is a modern woman preparing for what appears to be a perfect marriage. Yet something mysterious seems to be troubling her. As her wedding day approaches, Zaineen must face not only her fears and doubts, but also the mysterious force that appears to be trying to tell her something.
The film explores the pressure women face to look perfect and meet society’s expectations. However, the supernatural elements add a confusing dimension to the story. It is often difficult to tell whether the bride is simply struggling with the stress and expectations surrounding her wedding, or whether a deeper, mysterious force is pushing her to question the life she is about to enter.