In Karachi, a medical student struggles to keep her family together after her grandmother’s death. Compounding her challenges are the return of her estranged uncle and the romantic advances of a fellow student. After a motorbike accident, her anxieties manifest as a ghostly figure stalking her through the streets. Zarrar Kahn’s gripping feature directorial debut tells the story of women forced to navigate the violence of an oppressive, patriarchal society.

Reviews

‘The film steers admirably clear of cheap frights, skilfully ratcheting up an atmosphere of unease and keeping the viewer hooked through its astonishingly authentic performances.’
★★★★
Emma Simmonds, Radio Times

‘Nawal centres the story and holds the screen admirably; conveying emotional subtleties and depths, often without words, and this feels like a glimpse of a world that’s usually hidden.’
★★★★
Steve Rose, The Guardian