The Queen of My Dreams is definitely a story about family, imagining the struggles of a parent's life just as the child loses the other parent. Azra (Amrit Kaur) is in the outs with her parents after coming out as a lesbian. When her father Hassan (Hamza Haq) suddenly passes away, Azra goes back to Pakistan and as part of her grieving process, imagines what her mother went through when she was younger.
We go back and forth between the 2 worlds: Azra's frustration with the funeral process such as her brother being able to be part of things because he is a male and being denied that chance because she is female. We also go into the past when Azra, now playing her mother, being courted by the man who becomes her father.
We see the current dynamic of Azra with her mother Mariam (Pakistani actor Nimra Bucha) as well as her desire to find herself within her mother's world. There are aspects of Bollywood in the flashbacks. Her mother was a stewardess (they were called that back then) and got to fly around the world.
This is the third incarnation of this story for writer/director Fawzia Mirza. The 2012 short film The Queen of My Dreams came first followed by her theatrical stage play Me, My Mom & Sharmila.
We aren't sure why Azra feels this need to perform this exercise but the story is lovingly told. We also feel bad for her partner back in Canada, who is mostly ignored in the film. Sometimes, you just have to follow the story as told on the screen.
We are slightly amused at the idea of Azra, being a lesbian, a source of friction with the mother, also being a romantic partner for her father. Therapists will enjoy that aspect of the story.
The film is beautiful in the flashbacks and harsher in the modern time. Not a criticism but a reflection on how things are. Mirza makes sure we are engaged in both stories as a contrast.
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We aren't usually good at enjoying a film without thinking about "why." The best way to watch The Queen of My Dreams is just to fall in this world and take this for what it is. Bollywood fans may want more Bollywood in this film. If you aren't a Bollywood fan, there is enough but not too much Bollywood. Those who want more Canada? Azra's questioning of her culture is in part because she is Canadian. Jump into this film with both feet and you will likely enjoy the ride.
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The Queen of My Dreams won 2 Canadian Screen Awards in 2024: Best Lead Performance in a Drama Film (Kaur) and Best Original Song. The film also received nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay (Mirza), Best Art Direction/Production Design, and Best Original Score.
The film was honoured with a selection to TIFF's annual Canada's Top Ten list for 2023.The Queen of My Dreams is currently available on Crave in Canada.
video credit: Cineplex Pictures
photo credit: The Queen of My Dreams
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