Good Morning Pakistan

Good Morning Pakistan is like traveling to an out of the way place to see the sights and staying long enough to discover an insider's view. This film brought back fond memories of the best of my travels to far flung places. A remarkable journey. Highly recommended.

Before I walked into the theatre to see Salam Pakistan, I had no idea what Pakistan would actually look like. All I had ever thought about Pakistan is that it is a dangerous place. Where terrorists walked the streets caryying guns, and people hated America. Instead I was greeted by a relatable story of young man searching for his purpose by traveling to his home country a vibrant mesmerizing sight, which must be seen to believe. Amidst all the funny characters, beautiful locations and eastern beauties, I was left thinking about the true problems facing Pakistan. I was astonished to see the beautiful perfectly preserved shrines that decorates the lush landscape and how the belief in spirituality plays a part in the culture. My favorite character was Happy Heart who is never afraid to take little snips at other characters nor speak the truth no matter what.

I saw "Good Morning Pakistan" at 4 Star Theatre in San Francisco, last night. This film felt like a lovely trip to a small town in Pakistan. I loved the cinematography with the sites and colors. The night scenes were especially captivating by the way they were lit and shot with natural light. The actors were amazing on how they brought to life their characters, which were so varied. I loved the Captain and his wife. The Captain was the beloved and respected patriarch of the town, and everyone stopped by to say 'hello,' which captured the quaintness of a small town. This film opened a window into Pakistani culture. Through the transgender character, Happy Heart, who provided much laughter, and Diya, a gypsy girl, who provided much compassion, I was surprised to know how they fit into such a Muslim society. I heard of gypsies in Europe; though, I have never seen or heard of them in Pakistan and/or India, where they had originated from.This film did not hold back on addressing current Pakistani social problems, rather the director Zee slapped these issues in the viewer's face. In a few scenes, the Captain reprimanded certain townsmen preventing them from killing their daughters because the men wanted a son to carry on the family name, and/or from throwing acid on their wives because they felt their wives had caused them to lose face. On a different note, the high pitched women singing at the beginning required some adjusting to, not being used to it in American culture; but I have seen a number of Bollywood films. 'Good Morning Pakistan' is one of my favorite films.

Congratulations to Hassan Zee for inviting us to visit daily life in Pakistan, a Pakistan we don't often see through the terror-drenched headlines of newspapers and websites. Hassan highlights the brutal situation faced by women and trans people with humor and dignity, as he takes us into the rich culture of his home town - its markets, shrines, and music. Thanks, Hassan.

This is an enlightening and thought provoking film because it helps bridge the gap between what we think we know about Pakistan (as Americans) and what Pakistan is really like for the average Pakistani. Seeing it through Omar's eyes was revealing since he was experiencing the country for the first time. Many of the issues the characters experienced were the same as those faced by people in every country -. family, love, crime, justice and loss. My favorite part of the movie was the struggle Omar experienced between holding onto his life in America and his desire to learn more about his family and culture in Pakistan. It was also very nice to see his love and respect for his grandparents.