Norsk filminstitutt

A gripping and moving story about growing up in between two cultures, identity and belonging, and the turbulent journey of love and despair between one teenage girl and her family.

Sixteen year-old Nisha lives a double life. At home with her family she is the perfect Pakistani daughter, but when out with her friends, she is a normal Norwegian teenager. When her father catches her in bed with her boyfriend, Nisha’s two worlds brutally collide.    

To set an example, Nisha’s parents decide to kidnap her and place her with relatives in Pakistan. Here, in a country she has never been to before, Nisha is forced to adapt to her parents’ culture.   

What Will People Say is a moving drama about the complex relationship between a father and daughter. It is the story of a young girl who must find her own way in life. In the lead, 18 year old Maria Mozhdah makes her impressive acting debut. Her father is played by Adil Hussain, who has previously acted in a long line of Indian and international films like Life of Pi

Production and distribution

Production Year:
2017
Production country:
Norway
Co production country:
Germany
Sweden
Release date (national):
2017-10-06
Release date (international):
2017-09-09
Production company:
Mer Film AS
Co production company:
Rohfilm Factory
Zentropa International Sweden AB
Producer:
Maria Ekerhovd
Co producer:
Karsten Stöter
Lizette Jonjic
Madeleine Ekman
Tomas Eskilsson
Katarina Krave
Sales agent:
Beta Cinema GmbH

Director

  • Iram Haq

    Iram Haq (b. 1976) is an actress, writer and director. She made and starred in her directorial debut, the short film Little Miss Eyeflap, which screened at the Sundance Film Festival in 2009. Her feature film debut I Am Yours premiered at Toronto International Film Festival in 2013 and was selected as Norway’s official Oscar entry. The film has gone on to win a number of prizes at festivals around the world.     

    Iram Haq

Cast

Nisha:
Maria Mozhdah
Mirza:
Adil Hussain
Amir:
Rohit Saraf
Mother:
Ekavali Khanna
Asif:
Ali Arfan
Aunt:
Sheeba Chaddha
Uncle:
Lalit Parimoo
Salima:
Jannat Zubair Rehmani
Emily:
Nokokure Dahl
Social Worker:
Trine Wiggen
Social Worker 2:
Maria Bock
Sara Khorami

Awards

2017:
Nordic Film Days Lübeck
Audience Award
2017:
AFI Fest
Audience Award
2017:
Les Arcs European Film Festival
Audience Award
2018:
Würzburg International Film Weekend
Best Feature Film
2018:
Göteborg International Film Festival
Audience Dragon Award Best Nordic Film
Special Mention
2018:
Kanon Award for Best Director
Kanon Award for Best Producer
Kanon Award for Best Screenplay
Kanon Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, to Adil Hussain
2018:
International Film Festival Fribourg
Audience Award
2018:
Bif&st-Bari International Film Festival
Best Actress to Maria Mozhadah
2018:
Crossing Europe Film Festival Linz
Audience Award
2018:
ArtFilmFest International Film Festival
Audience Award
2018:
National Film Award Amanda for Best Director
National Film Award Amanda for Best Actor, to Adil Hussain
National Film Award Amanda for Best Screenplay
National Film Award Amanda for Best Theatrical Film
2019:
Palm Springs International Film Festival
Youth Jury Award

Festivals

2017:
Toronto International Film Festival
2017:
CPH:PIX
2017:
Mumbai International Film Festival
2017:
Nordic Film Days Lübeck
2017:
AFI Fest
2017:
Dubai International Film Festival
2017:
Kerala International Film Festival
2017:
Les Arcs European Film Festival
2018:
TIFF - Tromsø International Film Festival
2018:
International Film Festival Rotterdam
2018:
Würzburg International Film Weekend
2018:
Göteborg International Film Festival
2018:
Dublin International Film Festival
2018:
International Film Festival Fribourg
2018:
Cleveland International Film Festival
2018:
Bif&st-Bari International Film Festival
2018:
Crossing Europe Film Festival Linz
2018:
Off Camera International Festival of Independent Cinema
2018:
Jeonju International Film Festival
2018:
Seattle International Film Festival
2018:
International Filmfest Emden-Norderney
2018:
ArtFilmFest International Film Festival
2018:
Shanghai International Film Festival
2018:
Edinburgh International Film Festival
2018:
London Indian Film Festival
2018:
New Horizons International Film Festival
2018:
Jerusalem International Film Festival
2018:
International Film Festival Cinematik Piestany
2018:
Hebrides International Film Festival
2018:
Ale Kino! International Young Audience Film Festival
2019:
Palm Springs International Film Festival
2019:
Bengaluru International Film Festival
2019:
Amman International Film Festival
2019:
Festival do Rio - Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival
2020:
Nordic Dialogues Film Festival

Crew

Director:
Iram Haq
Screenplay:
Iram Haq
Cinematographer:
Nadim Carlsen
Editor:
Janus Billeskov Jansen
Anne Østerud
ProductionDesigner:
Ann Kristin Talleraas
Vintee Bansal
Sound engineer:
Tormod Ringnes
Composer:
Martin Pedersen
Lorenz Dangel

Technical information

Genre:
Drama
Format:
DCP 2k
Screen ratio:
1:2,39
Colour:
Colour
Sound format:
Stereo 5.1
Length in min's:
106'
Language:
Norwegian
Urdu
Subtitles:
English

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