This film is part of Free
Surviving Sabu
A budding gay filmmaker clashes with his conservative Muslim father as they work on a film about iconic Indian star Sabu
Overview
Funded by the Arts Council of England as part of its Moving Image series of films about ethnic identity in Britain, Ian Iqbal Rashid's debut short deservedly won him various industry accolades upon its release. Its sympathetic depiction of a strained relationship between a budding gay filmmaker and his conservative Muslim father as they collaborate on a film about Indian star Sabu - best known for his contribution to British cinema in the 1930s and 40s - is steered by exceptional performances from Suresh Oberoi and Navin Chowdry.
Generational conflict lies at the heart of the tension: armed with the arrogance of youth and an air of intellectual superiority, Amin seeks to expose his father's idol as a colonial pawn who became the unwitting victim of Hollywood exploitation. Sadru despairs of his son's lack of respect, and struggles to come to terms with Amin's sexuality and lifestyle. The ensuing drama is refracted through images of Sabu in glorious Technicolor, freeze-framed forever in his youthful prime, in marked contrast to the monochrome reality of his fall from grace.
Related
The Sheep Thief The Sheep Thief
Road movie 1997 25 mins
An adolescent criminal finds redemption when he meets and helps a young mother and her family.
Skin Deep Skin Deep
Drama 2001 15 mins Location: London
A young Pakistani man tries to pass as white and hang out with a group of racist skinheads
London Me Bharat London Me Bharat
Drama 1972 20 mins Location: London
Stylishly-shot document of multicultural 1970s London among Southall's Asian community.
Shakti Shakti
Drama 1992 14 mins
An Asian woman engages her inner goddess to create a stunning oasis in a grey tower block.
Ugandan Asians at Houndstone Camp Ugandan Asians at Houndstone Camp
Current affairs 1972 7 mins Location: Yeovil
Ugandan Asian refugees face up to a sudden wintery future.
No Virginity, No Nationality No Virginity, No Nationality
Drama-documentary 1981 15 mins
Satirical docu-drama based on the shocking fact that virginity tests were carried out by the home office on Asian girls arriving from India and Pakistan between 1971-1979.
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.
Women in Action Panel Discussion Women in Action Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 28 mins
Action Xtreme - the UK's leading action film studio - hosts this panel discussion with four leading women in action cinema - Soo Cole, Jo Rolison, Jadey Duffield and Ioanna Karavela.
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.