Chicago South Asian Film Festival

Schedule:

7:30 PM: MITHYA
Mithya is a journey alongside Mithun, an eleven-year-old, coming to terms with the sudden loss of his parents. Things turn gloomier as their families squabble over his custody, even as questions over the nature of his Father's death remain unanswered. We walk in step with Mithya's tottering feet, as they search for solid ground. Can a new house be home, can friendships be forged again or is it all just a search for something long gone!

6:00 PM: RAMADAN AMERICA
Ramadan America is a feature film anthology that celebrates stories of love, family and tradition. The film features five stories and explores many genres, themes, and cultural nuances in an effort to showcase what Ramadan and Eid mean to different American Muslims.

5:30 PM: AYESHA
Ayesha, a Muslim house-help, reluctantly takes on a one-day job at a Hindu household. She wants to be upfront about her identity, but when she introduces herself, the owner of the house mishears her name to be "Asha," a common Hindu name.

Hereon, "Asha" works dedicatedly - she fixes their broken tap, cooks food, tends to a crying baby and wins them over. But all through the day, she finds herself in situations where the Hindus of the house speak unabashedly and degradingly about Muslims, without knowing that their "Asha" is also one!

3:30 PM: NEXT, PLEASE
A Woman walks into a bar. But not just any bar, and not just any woman. Arpita, a heart-hardened cynic, has entered a virtual-reality dating bar for the first time to give love one last shot.

Her blind date is just what she was looking for. He's just as cynical and jaded as Arpita, and she loves his acerbic wit. Arpita breaks the cardinal rule of virtual-reality dating: she pulls off her VR headset.

1:00 PM: ALL THE MEN I MET BUT NEVER DATED
When Ali and Oliver first spot each other across the gym, they feel an instant attraction that their first few dates confirm. Ali seems happy - but something inside him still holds him back.

One night at a party, Oliver calls Ali out on his hesitations. Ali tells the truth: like many gay Muslims from conservative families, he is in the closet, protecting his family from the fact of who he is. Oliver sympathizes, but he is out and proud and he doesn't want to be someone's secret.

1:00 PM: IT WAS LOVE TO ME
Ali, 15, a youthful innocence about him, watches Neil at tennis practice. During a break, Neil approaches him, much to his surprise, and asks if he can go get him a Gatorade. The two bond, and Neil clearly shows a particular interest in Ali, inviting him to hang out the next day on the golf driving range. Ali is ecstatic by the invite , and the following day, Neil teaches him how to hit a golf ball. It's a sensual moment, as Neil gets close to him to adjust his grip. But the moment is interrupted by Kimberly, a bundle of joy, and Neil's girlfriend. The two share a welcoming kiss as Ali watches on, trying to hide his confusion. Later that night, Neil and Ali are alone again, hanging out at Neil's place as they lounge on his bed, a glazed sexual tension in the air. Neil talks about how he admires Ali for being true to himself, and not living a lie or a show. Ali doesn't say much as Neil talks, becoming more vulnerable, and showing some weakness. He submits himself to Ali, and Ali takes initiative by giving him a *******. During it though, something brews within Neil, he's not enjoying the experience. Quiet guilt and remorse sweep over his face. After the fact, the two bask in an unsure silent moment. Later, Ali walks home alone, taking in the fresh air, feeling like a new person. He's joyous, he's felt like he's found love. But the next day, he goes to the tennis courts, and Neil is nowhere to be seen, and he's not responding to his texts. He looks for him at the driving range, but he's not there either. Kimberly is though, however. He asks her where Neil is, and Kimberly looks at him confused, saying that he flew out to Virginia last night for college. Ali's world is shattered, he's in denial. He leaves Kimberly abruptly, his mind racing, as he rushes over to Neil's apartment. Deep inside he knows there's nobody on the other side, but he knocks anyway. Of course, there's no answer. Defeated, Neil sits across the door and lets it all out, crying, betrayed, and searching for answers.

1:00 PM: SAHELA
Sahela (Companion) tells the story of Vir Oza and Nitya Behl, an Indian-Australian couple grappling with Vir's recently discovered gay identity in suburban Sydney. As they navigate traditional expectations and modern norms, the pressures of family, finances, and Nitya's dreams for their future add to their struggles.

12:00 PM: BARIR NAAM SHAHANA
The story follows the turbulent life of Dipa, a young divorced woman whose refusal to suffer silently makes her a misfit in a rural town in 90s Bangladesh.

She is raised by weak and ineffectual parents in a peculiar family dynamic dominated by her maternal uncle and aunt. Under their authority, Dipa is married off to a widower in England over a trunk-call wedding ceremony to protect her from the dangers of teenage passions. She suffers marital rape, refuses to settle and escapes.

12:00 PM: DANCING IN FIRE: KHALIKHANE FIRE-WALKING AND RITUAL HEALING IN THE KATHMANDU VALLEY OF NEPAL
Anthropologist, Alfred Pach, and film director, Ramesh Khadkas' documentary takes us into the depth of the ritual world and social life of a rural Hindu community in Nepal. Based on six weeks of continuous filming and extensive interviews, the documentary presents a comprehensive and nuanced ethnographic perspective on a profound response to human suffering.

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