‘Gritty and raw’ new film explores south Asian community in Bury

A new short film by Bury director Basit Khan gives a raw portrayal of the south Asian community’s experiences in Bury.

For God’s Sake is set in a mosque and focuses on the day-to-day life of a skilled seamstress who crafts burqas and performs spiritual rituals.

Produced by Jack Clarke, who made the film Nobody Loves You and You Don’t Deserve to Exist and produced in collaboration with HOME Young Film Collective. the film pushes boundaries and delves deep into the complexities of the south Asian experience in Greater Manchester.

For God’s Sake

The film stars Bhasker Patel, renowned for his roles in Emmerdale and Indiana Jones: Temple of Doom, alongside Narinder Uppal, fresh from her acclaimed performances in shorts like Different and Honest.

Joining Patel and Uppal are Ameera Khalid (Chorlton), Hannah Shamailah (Bury), and Noor Al Ain (Salford).

It’s great to see local actors and talent making their mark on the big screen.

Showcasing local talent

Speaking to I Love Manchester, Jack Clarke said: “This film isn’t being made for entertainment; it’s a mirror reflecting the pining souls of our communities,

“We’re not telling stories that retread ground. We’re rewriting damaging narratives and amplifying voices that have long been silenced.

“With For God’s Sake, we’re carving out a space where authenticity reigns supreme and diversity isn’t cause for celebration. It’s a prerequisite to the raw powers of universal storytelling.”

Love letter

Drawing inspiration from his cultural roots in the Kashmiri diaspora, writer/director Basit Khan charges For God’s Sake with a rare blend of poignancy and authenticity.

“The film serves as a love letter to the unsung heroes of our communities,” says Khan. “It’s for the mothers, sisters, daughters, the dreamers who dared to defy convention. Through the stories of their incredible feats of will, we find our humanity, our struggles, and ultimately our triumphs, some of those which may be yet to come.”

Evocative, powerful ideas

Isobel Glenton, creative development practitioner for film and digital at HOME, said she was excited about the film and the emerging talent rallying behind it.

“The production team for For God’s Sake has been working with HOME for almost a year, attending workshops, training sessions, and talks as part of our Young Film Collective programme. When we asked the group to pitch ideas and scripts to us for short film funding, we were so impressed with Basit’s evocative, powerful ideas.

“HOME is thrilled to support emerging artists and filmmakers within the region, and this would not be possible without the support of our funding partner.”

For your diary

The film is showing on April 30th at HOME for a screening that promises to challenge, provoke and inspire.

Check out HOME’s website by clicking here. Find out more about the Home Young Film Collective by clicking here.