My Pure Land in Oscar bid

Urdu drama will compete in Best Foreign Language Film category

by Jennie Kermode

My Pure Land
My Pure Land

The UK today revealed its submission for Best Foreign Language Film consideration at the 2018 Oscars. Sarmad Masud's My Pure Land is the first Urdu language film ever to be put forward by the UK in this category.

The film, which is based on a true story, sees a mother and her two daughters defending their remote rural home from bandits and ultimately taking on a gang of 200 armed men. The production itself was a risky one, with the UK citizens involved facing a high risk of kidnap and ransom in the areas where they were filming, and with an extra actually opening fire on set, though fortunately no-one was hurt.

Masud, for whom this is a first feature, has previously attracted notice for shorts Two Dosas and Adha Cup.

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