The world of the music video is powerful and remarkable. It paints a space of fluidity, and creativity which is then tied together by a voice that refuses to be diminished. Employing silhouettes and ease of movement, brought to life most beautifully by the charge led by Bernie Van Tiel (BVT), the video endeavors to present a moment embedded in Filipinx roots and culture. 
‘Lalaki’ shares a glimpse into a realm that boldly identifies itself with dance, music and words that are left with the viewer long after they are done listening to them. The brevity inherent to a music video works beautifully in its favor, ensuring all ideas are delineated without making the narrative overbearing. 

Further, the storytelling operates predominantly within the space of symbolism, with each image presenting an important metaphor about identity and belonging. As a community’s ethos is presented to you by way of an impactful end result, the video is taken home as a cohesive whole.

Lalaki | BVT | Short Film of the Day

‘Zaara’ is a beautiful, even if heartbreaking, glimpse into the life of the eponymous protagonist. A Pakistani girl in the UK, Zaara lives a life consumed entirely by her creative pursuits of filmmaking. As she struggles to stay afloat in the face of dire financial crisis, tugging at her with full force are also conflicted familial relationships. Located at the heart of debt, emotional burdens of a family that refuses to be supportive (while also suffering in the face of their daughter’s financial choices), Zaara refuses to give up, forever pushing forth. 

 As racist, exploitative debt collectors close in, and the protagonist concocts lies to keep going with the shooting of her film, matters truly come to a head. Accompanying them are tribulations for the family as well, simply because of association with their daughter. 

Though a film of limited resources, ‘Zaara’ leaves no stone unturned in its attempts to weave a poignant story about a young minority voice against the world, which sometimes includes her immediate family and their own sexism. Additionally, it exhibits notable storytelling and an emotional maturity that should be explored in future projects by the team. The character of Zaara is enduring, resilient and flawed in her own ways, precisely what makes her leave a lasting impression in the viewer’s mind. Interacting with her life further, and everywhere that her determination, or even stubbornness, takes her is indeed a prospect to look forward to for the viewer.

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