The trailer of Asif Islam's feature film, "Nirvana" was released on September 15 . The sneak peek into the 85-minute film stunned the audience with its breath-taking cinematography.
The black and white colour scheme gives it an eerily haunting look, especially with the lack of dialogue, the actor’s body language and simple static shots which captures the emotions of the film.
"Nirvana" follows the lives of three factory workers, a grieving mother play by Fatema Tuz Zohra Eva, a woman going through heartbreak caused by betrayed love played by Priyam Archi and a man struggling with his sexual identity played Imran Mahathir.
The film earned international recognition at the 46th Moscow International Film Festival (MIFF) and received the Special Jury Award.
When asked about the film, Asif said that the aim was to focus on the internal rather than the external. He said that he found the inspiration to make a film like this from a family friend’s factory.
The ear deafening factory noises inspired him to make the entire film silent. Also the loud sounds from the factory was a big issue for audio recording. But this decision to make it silent worked in the film's favour, giving it a bigger artistic and moody edge.
Initially beginning as a minimum effort project bloomed into the melancholic feature it is now, a stark contrast to the usual Bangladeshi cinema that relies on vibrant visuals and loud music.
Although there is no music or dialogue, the theme is set using ambient noises and sounds by sound designer Sukanta Majumder and composer Ben Roberts.
It is not a film with a clear message or ending, it is realistic of people going through their daily lives still carrying the heavy burden of grief, heartbreak and self-discovery. With themes such as struggling with one’s sexual identity, the film stands out from rest.
With LGBTQ themes, Asif still remains cautious and worried about its commercial release in Bangladesh knowing the taboo and sensitive topics covered in the film. With the censor board now morphed into the reformed certification board, potential obstacle in that front might be minimized, the director hopes.
