Eaux silencieuses
(Khamosh Pani)

Pakistan, 1979: under President General Zia-ul-Haq’s martial law, the country has embarked on the road to Islamization. Ayesha is a seemingly well-adjusted middle-aged woman whose life centres around her son Saleem, a gentle, dreamy 18-year-old, in love with Zubeida. They live in the village of Charki, in Pakistani Punjab. Ayesha’s husband is dead and she manages a living from his pension and by giving Quran lessons to young girls. Saleem becomes intensely involved with a group of Islamic fundamentalists and leaves Zubeida. Ayesha is saddened to see her son change so drastically…