As a film reviewer with a soft spot for gritty social dramas that resonate deeply, I find myself utterly captivated by “Saba.” Hailing from Bangladesh, this debut feature by Maksud Hossain offers a raw and authentic portrayal of life’s unyielding struggles.
In the Bangladeshi social drama “Saba,” directed by Maksud Hossain, there’s an overwhelming feeling of financial and personal standstill. This is a solid debut for the director, featuring Mehazabien Chowdhury as the 25-year-old Saba, who grapples with her finances while caring for her mother Shirin (played by Rokeya Prachy), a paraplegic single parent whose pent-up frustrations frequently lash out towards Saba.
To finance the emergency surgery of Shirin, Saba takes up a waitressing role at a questionable hookah bar in Dhaka – a job that’s not typically held by women for long hours, which further aggravates her caregiving responsibilities. This is one hardship after another, as Saba even has to plead for the position initially, and Shirin is forced to lie in bed until Saba can wash and change her.
Stories about hardship may unintentionally slide into melodrama, known as ‘pity porn’. However, Hossain skillfully portrays the situation and its accompanying struggles from genuine, lived-in experience. Following the demise of his father-in-law, the director’s spouse and collaborator Trilora Khan took over as primary caregiver for her disabled mother. While “Saba” is a fictional piece, it springs from a very real, agonizing situation where finding nobility in simply sustaining life becomes challenging. Eventually, caring for someone with limited support systems turns into an arduous task for both parties.
Due to Shirin’s inability to navigate the narrow staircase of her building, she is confined to it during the daytime, with Saba being forced to lock her inside out of necessity. This living space, small and cramped, functions as both a physical and emotional prison for Shirin, who yearns to check on her mother. Only Ankur, her work supervisor (played by Mostafa Monwar), seems to comprehend her situation fully. Initially appearing stern, Ankur reveals a deeper side once Saba gets to know him better.
Occasionally, there’s a hint of romance in their friendship, but what truly binds them is their understanding of each other’s hardships. Much like Saba and Shirin, Ankur finds himself tied to a city that offers neither love nor many prospects for him. To make ends meet, he resorts to running an illegal liquor business while saving money for a move abroad. The characters in the film are simply trying to survive. It doesn’t take long before they must contemplate whether stepping on each other might be the key to moving forward. Corrupted by the system, they harbor the capacity for something sinister.
The struggles faced by Bangladesh’s lower and middle classes are vividly portrayed in the film “Saba”. Though the movie was produced prior to the country’s recent widespread protests, it shares the same roots of financial instability that ignited those demonstrations. As a result, this film serves as a powerful reflection of social realism, subtly yet powerfully conveying the mood of Bangladesh’s disillusioned youth.
This story and its political undertones are skillfully depicted by Hossain, who frequently watches from afar in a style reminiscent of the Dardenne brothers, although his mastery over mood and emotion is still developing (for now). The plot unfolds swiftly, enabling the actors to deliver their dramatic performances with passion and finesse. The filmmaking can be repetitive at times – the camera angles provide views, but don’t often emphasize; the editing is straightforward and literal, rather than flowing with rhythm. However, when Chowdhury’s close-ups take center stage, the actress breathes life into a complex portrait of a woman teetering on the edge; it’s challenging not to empathize deeply with Saba.
The movie boasts fascinating characters and themes, nearly achieving greatness by sustaining its dramatic tension for a bit longer. Despite this, it’s still a remarkable debut and serves as a powerful reflection of a turbulent period in contemporary Bangladesh’s political landscape.
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2024-09-11 22:46