Page 17 - Pakistan Link - January 29, 2020

COMMUNITY JANUARY 29, 2021 – PAKISTAN LINK – P17

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VOL. 31/5 Friday, January 29, 2021 16 Jumada ath-Thaniya 1442

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Young Qari Wins First US Federal Hadiqa Kiani For news,

International Qirat Muslim Woman Enters the Realm updated round
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Pakistani-American Director Delivers Powerful Short Film, Tikkun Olam

Written and directed by Pakistani-American Bob Ahmed (Babar Ahmed) on left, the film has been officially selected to premiere at the 19th Annual Garden State Film Festival, New Jersey’s premier film festival

n By Michael Sullivan Olam, raises the importance of who walk by every day. I had been act of kindness, the boy brings dig- King Lear to bring a fully fleshed-

Photos courtesy of Jessica Caso this topic in a fictionalized story. blinded to the world around me. It nity and respect back to the man’s out character in the homeless vet-
Written and directed by Pakistani- was at this moment that my broth- life. The film’s emotional core takes eran. And his young co-lead, Al-

ave you ever felt that American Bob Ahmed (Babar er and I realized a film on this topic place when the homeless veteran exander Fox, goes toe-to-toe with

strong sense of guilt Ahmed), the film has been official- was both vital and urgent.” is unconscious on the street in the the experienced actor, delivering a
Hwhen you pass by a ly selected to premiere at the 19th Ahmed, perhaps the most ac- middle of the day. We see people subtle and blistering performance,
homeless person asking you for Annual Garden State Film Festival, complished Pakistani-American walk by and simply refuse to ac- which leads to real tears.

money? Rushing to your lunch New Jersey’s premier film festival. filmmaker, is known for the criti- knowledge another human being While many positive steps

meeting, you simply didn’t have I talked with Ahmed about cally acclaimed 2014 Mongolian/ in distress, until finally the young have been taken to tackle home-

the time to stop and give that what inspired him to make this American movie, Amka and The protagonist arrives on the scene. lessness in Washington, DC, this

person money or even afford short film. Ahmed explained, Three Golden Rules. Classified by Tikkun Olam packs a powerful is still a difficult issue to untangle

them the basic dignity of being “While working for an organi- Emirates Airlines as “one of the one-two punch, evoking both an- that can appear both overwhelm-
addressed. If you carry those zation near the White House, I great movies worth watching from ger and inspiration. This is an ur- ing and hopeless. And it may seem

feelings of guilt, then you’re not passed homeless people every day around the world”, the film has gently needed story of hope, in our that only a child has the time and

alone. as I strode along thinking about my won several awards at internation- broken world today. Every beat of heart to notice the same homeless
And if you live in Washington, upcoming meetings, what I’d have al film festivals. the story feels authentic, avoiding man on the sidewalk for several

DC, you’ve probably grown accus- for lunch, about how I’d impress So what is the meaning of any hint of melodrama. Pure visual days in a row.
tomed to the daily sight of home- my boss. Then one day, my brother Tikkun Olam? “A concept of per- storytelling heightens the emo- However, Ahmed’s short film

less people sleeping on the streets. told me he was very upset as he had forming acts of kindness to repair tional engagement and escalating is not just about the innocence
According to the National Alliance seen an elderly homeless man col- the world,” says Ahmed. The story tension, with barely three or four of childhood but about the kind-

to End Homelessness, Washington lapsed on the ground and everyone in his film follows a kind-heart- lines of dialogue in the entire film. hearted child within us all.
DC’s homelessness rate is the high- had walked by, until my brother ed young boy, still unable to tie Actor Alexander Barnett (Michael Sullivan is a scholar
est in the entire country. called an ambulance. I thought to his shoe laces, who encounters a draws on his vast experience of of Film and Film History based in

A new short film, Tikkun myself; I am one of those people homeless war veteran. Through his playing roles such as Macbeth and New York and Washington, DC)
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