Withdrawal
Synopsis
A missed school bus leaves ten-year-old Myra stranded in Lahore, where her journey home spirals into a tense fight for survival against the men who stalk her every step.
Film Screening & Ticket Information
When & Where to See this Film!
…COMING SOON…
Film Information
From the Director
Director Statement
I was only nine years old when I was assaulted in the streets of Pakistan.
As girls, we were made to feel ashamed about our bodies and told not to speak about things concerning our bodies. For a long time, I had no words to describe what I experienced. I buried this trauma from my childhood. But five years ago, as the country reeled with increasing cases of violence against women, victim-blaming and shaming reached a new crescendo. I could no longer remain silent.
Furiously, I wrote the script, angry at what had happened and what continues to happen in patriarchal cultures. I decided to film on the very streets where I was assaulted.
I know from my own circle of family and friends how such victims of assault – often children – cannot speak about their trauma. I want to break the silence on this issue and bring audiences a perspective of a survivor.
Through Myra’s journey, we are made aware of the challenges in patriarchal societies about the stigmas surrounding gendered sexual violence and pose larger questions about how can women and girls break this cycle of violence.
In a post-MeToo moment, we live through stories like those of Madam Pelicot whose courage showed us that “shame must change sides”. The shame does not belong to the victim but the perpetrator.
The making of “Don’t be late, Myra” has been a cathartic journey for me allowing me to come to terms with trauma and find a way to heal. I want to share this film with as many people as possible.
Director Biography
Pakistani-American filmmaker, Afia Nathaniel, was raised between Lahore and several air force bases where she grew up with a deep love for fighter jet planes, long road trips and discovering worlds hiding in plain sight.
Afia’s debut feature DUKHTAR – a road trip thriller – premiered to a rousing reception at Toronto in 2014 and became Pakistan’s Official Oscar Submission for the “Best Foreign Language Film” category. DUKHTAR played to critical acclaim in over 20 countries to rave reviews and was the Critics’ Pick (Village Voice) and the People Magazine’s Pick of the Week. It was labelled as “exquisite” by New York Times and billed as “a road journey to end all road journeys” by Huffington Post. The screenplay for the film has been invited to the Academy’s Permanent Core Collection.
Through her films, Afia explores pressing social justice issues of our times which a critic lauded as “a stunning, emotive work”. She has been featured in the Variety, NYT, Indiewire, NPR, Huffington Post and Screen Daily. Variety says, “Nathaniel proves her mettle in a national industry where distaff directors are rare”.
Afia is an alumnus of Columbia University, Berlin’s Talent Project Market, Gotham, Tribeca Film Institute and Film Independent. Her work has received support from HBO, Netflix, National Geographic, Tribeca Film Institute, Cinereach, Women in Film, New York Foundation for the Arts, Rotterdam, SorFond, NYSCA + HFPA.
Afia’s film DON’T BE LATE, MYRA premiered at Woodstock in 2024 and was nominated for the Oscar-qualifying Mark Braunstein Award Best Short Narrative. Recently, the film swept awards in New York and London bagging “Best Short Film” at Big Apple Film Festival and “Best Long Short” at UK Asian Film Festival.
Credits
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Afia Serena NathanielDirectorDUKHTAR
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Afia Serena NathanielWriterDUKHTAR
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Afia Serena NathanielProducerDUKHTAR
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Nouman WaheedProducerDUKHTAR
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Innayah UmerKey Cast“Myra”
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Nida AhsanKey Cast
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Munir HussainKey Cast
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Muhammad TariqKey Cast
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Rene BastianExecutive ProducerTransamerica, Cold in July, Funny Games, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints,
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Shrihari SatheExecutive ProducerIt Felt Like Love, Beach Rats, A Woman A Part, Dukhtar, No Land’s Man
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Afia NathanielEditorsDUKHTAR
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Nadeem AbbasEditorsJOYLAND
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Peter NashelComposersALASKA DAILY, I TONYA, DUKHTAR
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Brian DemingComposersDUKHTAR
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