{"id":67495,"date":"2022-11-01T06:13:09","date_gmt":"2022-11-01T12:13:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saitjournalism.ca\/?p=67495"},"modified":"2022-11-01T08:01:22","modified_gmt":"2022-11-01T14:01:22","slug":"student-film-director-addresses-the-impact-of-domestic-violence-in-diverse-cultures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/saitjournalism.ca\/thepress\/2022\/11\/01\/student-film-director-addresses-the-impact-of-domestic-violence-in-diverse-cultures\/","title":{"rendered":"Student film director addresses the impact of domestic violence in diverse cultures"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Maryam Ejaz (right) speaks to a live audience in response to her short film in Calgary on Thursday Sept 09, 2022. Ejaz was answering audience questions regarding her short film Purple Kisses. (Photo provided by Celestia Nlemvo\/The Press)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

O<\/span>n Sept. 9. the NUTV<\/a> production company held its fourth\u00a0annual Student Film Festival, highlighting Calgary\u2019s next generation of young and up-and-coming filmmakers.<\/p>\n

T<\/span>his year, 11 films were screened consecutively in front of a full crowd at Globe Cinema by students attending various schools and institutions including the University of Calgary, SAIT, Western Canada High School, and many others.<\/p>\n

Maryam Ejaz<\/a>, a graduate of Mount Royal University with a degree in English, has always considered writing a big part of her life since she was a child, and as a result, it ignited a passion for filmmaking. Once she graduated, Maryam began building relationships with people, eventually leading to opportunities such as mentorships with film companies that specialize in cinematography and writing, thus opening the door to the filming process of Purple Kisses<\/a><\/em> in 2020.<\/p>\n

The origins of Purple Kisses<\/em> began three years ago when Maryam drafted a poem based on the domestic violence and abuse within\u00a0Pakistani and South Asian culture.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe it has to do with intergenerational trauma and inequality between genders.\u201d Ejaz said.<\/p>\n

Ejaz explains that the cycle of abuse is normalized within her culture, and uses her poem to deeply understand why issues such as domestic violence are not spoken about enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe point of this film was to bring to the front the struggle of individuals who are in an abusive relationship and how hard it can be for them,\u201d Ejaz said.<\/p>\n

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Purple Kisses<\/em> was not able to be screened in theatres until the night of the film festival, but despite some minor setbacks, when the film was screened in front of a live audience, Ejaz could not help but be overwhelmed with emotion and pride.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust the ambience of the room and seeing everyone else react to the film was such an incredible experience, and it really did inspire me to write more,\u201d Ejaz said.<\/p>\n

Upon the film’s release, many people of colour from diverse backgrounds, such as South Asians, Caucasians, and Western Canadians, credited Ejaz for creating a film that resonated with them and their personal struggles.<\/p>\n

Some called the film ‘eye-opening.’<\/p>\n

Angad Singh<\/a>, a student at the University of Calgary, played the role of Hassan, the main antagonist in the film. As Purple Kisses<\/em> was Singh\u2019s debut on screen and his first big acting role, he describes his first time on set as a learning experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was something very foreign to me because it was my first time being in front of a camera, so while being in that zone, I had to learn all things about being behind the scenes and what an actor\u2019s job is throughout\u00a0filming.\u201d<\/p>\n

When trying to embody and portray the character of Hassan, Angad dissected the character piece by piece, telling\u00a0 himself that the character of Hassan was not so much the antagonist in the story but instead the protagonist in the eyes of the audience.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest challenge was convincing myself that he was in the right as it played with my moral compass. I like to joke around and what not behind the scenes, so it was challenging to switch in and out of character,\u201d Angad said.<\/p>\n

Manet Khera<\/a>, a model, actress and musician in the Indian film industry, played the role of Aliyah, the main protagonist in the film. Throughout her acting career, Manet has always longed to be in a film with a character who has a message to share with society.<\/p>\n

When the opportunity presented itself to be in a film such as Purple Kisses<\/em>, Khera took the time to study the role.<\/p>\n

“This is deep and the message that it was sending across, and I just felt like that I could really embody the character of Aliyah and show the world what she has been through, and other women like her,\u201d Khera said.<\/p>\n

While reading the script of Purple Kisses<\/em>, Khera gravitated towards the role of Aliyah as she could relate to the sentiments of what the main character was feeling, as Khera has seen many in both the Pakistani and Indian communities suffering from domestic violence.<\/p>\n

“People do not want to talk about domestic violence,” Khera said. “It\u2019s kind of just pushed under the rug because it is so stigmatized.”<\/p>\n

\"\"
Manet Khera was the actress who played Aliyah in the short film Purple Kisses in Calgary on Sunday Sept 26, 2022. Khera wanted to embody the character of Aliyah and make light of domestic violence and abuse within the Pakistan and Indian communities. (Photo provided by Manet Khera)\u00a0<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Purple Kisses depicts the story of a young woman who is desperately trying to navigate through life while in an abusive marriage without any support from her immediate family, as seen through the eyes of writer and cinematographer Maryam Ejaz.
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