While the film is breathtakingly beautiful, the characters are haunted by traditions and values
Who would have thought about railway tracks and Balochistan? Who would have carved out a painting from Pakistan’s most ignored province? Jamshed Mahmood Raza, popularly known as Jami, did it in his film Moor.
Shot in Muslim Bagh, Moor shows a side of Balochistan we have never seen before. The breathtaking landscape and the fineness with which the film is shot will blow your mind. You will find yourself asking, “Is this really Balochistan? Is this really a Pakistani film that I am watching?” Such craft had been seen only in Hollywood before.
Released on 14th August, the film puts light on Balochistan’s decaying railway system due to profit seeking elements in the country. Wahidullah (Hameed Sheikh), of Khost railway station and his son Ahsanullah (Shaz Khan) are caught between what is right and a better tomorrow. Wahidullah reluctantly agrees to sell off the railway infrastructure due to pressure by his brother and promised financial benefits. On the other hand, his son who lives in Karachi is trying to earn a living by making fake degrees.
Moor is a story of faith and conscience. It is about love for your land yet it is not a formula patriotic piece. It talks about same old notions of corruption, morality, and love but in an un-clichéd manner.
Moor is an epitome of the art of storytelling, both visually and verbally. Every single frame is an art peace in itself which has been meticulously designed. Attention has been paid to every single detail. Composition, cinematography and costumes, they are all chosen well to create the right moods and feelings.
Each actor did a superb job irrespective of how big or small his/her role was. The actors were very convincing, fitting perfectly into their character’s demographic background and environment. Those who were shown as natives of Balochistan had mastered the local accent well. Their costumes, body language and facial features made it easy for the audience to relate with.
The film is full of depth and symbolism despite having a very simple plot. Cinematography, direction and dialogues together make it a masterpiece worth watching.
But what added the X factor was its music. It complemented the scenes creating an immersive experience and eliminating any minor weaknesses that the plot had. The choice of music according to the scenes created the right mood and evoked the right emotions, especially Gul Bashri and Talabgaar.
Moor did have some flaws but one forgets them at the end of the movie. The first half of the plot was slow. Moreover, it was difficult for the viewer to comprehend what was going on until the second half of the movie. Another problem, which is a personal opinion, was that there was excessive use of close-up shots in the beginning. Other than that, Moor is a masterpiece. Although the plot is very simple, there is a lot to ponder over and reflect on. Jami knows how to evoke emotions not just through dialogues but also through visuals.
Moor didn’t just bring Balochistan’s railway tracks into focus but also put Pakistani Cinema on track. We really hope that it is nominated for Oscars and brings home the award.
Moor is directed by Jamshed Mahmood Raza aka ‘Jami’. It stars Hameed Sheikh, Shaz Khan, Samiya Mumtaz, Abdul Qadir and others. The 150-minute long film opened on 14 August, 2015.
Rating: 4/5 stars
