Away from the glitz and glam of Birmingham resides an illegal immigrant community who are always in hiding, leaving no proof of their existence, not even their footprints. Raghu, an illegal immigrant in Birmingham - UK, believes that he has finally struck gold as his daughter, Meera, is all set to marry a wealthy groom, a legal resident in the UK.
Raghu was a small-scale business owner in India who fled to the UK with his wife and daughter after being mired in a financial scam. The life that awaited them in the UK was far from perfect – they were dumped into shared accommodation, they did not have legit visas, and they were all expected to work for a meagre wage. Raghu regrets this move, but he is left with no choice but to stay on in the UK, make enough money to pay off his debts, and return home with dignity.
Six years on, Raghu now works for a fraudulent solicitor who mints money making fake passports and visa appeals. Raghu is his trusted employee, and his boss has paid back his loyalty by finding the perfect groom for Meera. Following a heated argument with Raghu, Meera storms out of the home and never returns. Raghu worries, knowing Meera's habit of making hasty extreme decisions in the spur of the moment. Raghu sets on a mission to find her all by himself without coming under the police radar.
Raghu's search for Meera unveils a different side of her life that he never knew existed. Raghu realises that in his race behind the materialistic riches, he has lost everything and everyone that mattered to him the most. Now, the only priority in his life is to see his daughter safe. But is he too late?
The screening will begin with a special introduction by ReelN, setting the stage for the themes explored in the film. After the screening, audiences are invited to stay for a 45-minutes recorded Q&A session with the director Nathalia Syam and our Communities Co-ordinator, Chim’Di Ugada, will shed light on the pressing social and political issues in South Asian communities, such as; the exploitation of vulnerable immigrants, the illegitimate visa documents promised and the poor quality of life generally experienced by illegal immigrants from various nationalities.
Director bio - Nathalia Syam
Nathalia Syam is a London-based, multi-award-winning feature film director known for her work on Footprints On Water. With a background spanning both the British and Indian film industries, she has garnered experience as an associate director/1st AD, with broadcast credits for her previous short films and commercials. In addition to her directing career, Nathalia serves as a Film Practitioner at a Film School in London. Her directorial prowess was highlighted with her previous short film, Lehenga, which earned a nomination for the 'Best of British' award at the BAFTA qualifying 'Iris Prize' Award in Cardiff. Footprints On Water has further solidified her reputation, earning Nathalia over seven awards for direction.
Accessibility information for Showroom Cinema can be found on our website and on AccessAble. If you have any questions regarding accessibility for this event, please feel free to contact us at communties@srws.org.uk
Showroom Community screenings are welcoming to all, celebrating the values, cultures and beliefs of Sheffield’s diverse communities. Please find out more information about Showroom Community here.
*This film has not been rated by the BBFC, therefore we cannot allow entry for those under 18 years old.
Director Nathalia Syam
Year 2022
Duration
1h 48m
Language English Language
Cast Lena, Adil Hussain, Nimisha Sajayan