Returning to S/W with his new tense short Film Bhai (Brothers), Hamza Bangash (Stray Dogs Come Out at Night) transports us to the bustling streets of Karachi, Pakistan, as we follow two brothers on a seemingly simple errand. As they stop to pick up food from a local restaurant, the hectic and lively atmosphere of the city, heightened by the Independence Day celebrations, will affect the pair differently and reveal a layered storyline tackling themes of mental health from the perspectives of both protagonists.

“I’ve always been intrigued in telling stories about individuals who find themselves on the margins of society”

Despite its short runtime (it’s essentially just under six minutes, minus the credits) Bhai packs a punch with its compelling, slice-of-life storyline. Instead of manufacturing drama, the film engages its audience by immersing them in the characters’ inner emotional states and their reactions to their surroundings. Co-written by the director and his lead actor Mohammad Ali Hashmi, Bangash shared with us that the film is actually inspired by Hashmi’s own relationship with his sister, and the stigma they encountered from society: “I wanted to explore the world from the perspective of someone who is on the autism spectrum, as well as those who care for them”. Admitting that he’s “always been intrigued in telling stories about individuals who find themselves on the margins of society”, the authenticity that Bangash and Hashmi bring to their story contributes greatly to its empathetic quality and paired with a narrative structure that shows “how joy, happiness and resilience can be found, no matter your circumstances”, it makes for a powerful watch.

The events in Bhai are rather mundane for the two main characters, but it is their emotional impact, especially on the older brother, which provides the narrative development in the short. To recreate the characters’ emotional journeys, Bangash creatively uses every filmmaking tool at his disposal to immerse the audience into the brothers’ perspectives. From the tight frame of the aspect ratio, to the decision to capture such a joyous day in black and white, it truly feels as if we’re witnessing events through Taimur and Hassan’s eyes. With the story gathering pace quickly, the carefully framed cinematography, camera movements and rapid cuts combine to expertly recreate that feeling when everything starts to become frantic and overwhelming. The sound design helping us to understand what their minds are focusing on at any moment. 

With a nuanced screenplay and precise directorial choices, the craft in Bhai is undeniably impressive, but where the film really lands its impact is through the subtle performances of both co-writer Hashmi (as Hassan the older brother) and Ayan Javaid (as Taimur, the younger sibling). Adamant that his younger character should be portrayed by a differently-abled actor, to really understand the character’s autism, Bangash worked with the Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning (PILL) and Special Olympics Pakistan in the casting process. Meeting with lot of different individuals and their families helped give the director a greater understanding of the story, before Javaid was finally cast in the role. With Bangash and his actor allowed extra time to work and rehearse over Zoom, “thanks” to the pandemic, the pair were able create a rapport and get the first-time performer used to being in front of a camera. While both actors are incredible in their scenes alone, it truly is their chemistry in the last scene that brings it all together, wrapping the film on such a powerful note and giving the audience room to process all they have just seen.

Ahead of its online release, Bhai had its world premiere in the fall at the 2021 edition of TIFF. Bangash is already working on his next project, a feminist horror feature film set in Karachi, can it get more promising than this?