'My Pure Land': A film about Pakistani women challenging patriarchy

Film depicts struggle of Pakistani woman who, along with daughters, defends land from 200 armed men

My Pure Land, a modern-day feminist western, tells the true story of a woman and her two daughters who defended their land from armed men.

The film depicts the struggle of Nazo Dharejo, a Pakistani woman who, along with her daughters, fights to protect their land from the clutches of 200 heavily armed men who lay claim to it as part of a familial feud. With only women to defend it, the men initially believe they will easily be able to clinch the property, but they are soon proven wrong.



The scenes in the movie alternate between the confrontation itself and the happenings before it. Her determination pays tribute to all Pakistani women who have challenged the oppressive patriarchal system prevalent in the country.

The movie is British-Pakistani director Sam Masud's debut venture. It has been filmed in guerilla style in Pakistan itself, and premiered at this year’s Edinburgh Film Festival.



My Pure Land is a tense drama offering a new take on one of the most classic film genres. The movie hits theatres in the UK on September 15 -- a release date for Pakistani cinemas has yet to be announced.

This story originally appeared on the Independent.