Director Abdullah Mohammad Saad’s second feature “Rehana Maryam Noor” has been officially selected in the “Un Certain Regard” section of the 74th Cannes Film Festival.
Penned and edited by Saad, this is the first Bangladeshi film to have been officially selected at the prestigious festival. Previously, the late director Tareque Masud’s “Matir Moyna” was screened at the Director's Fortnight segment of the 55th Cannes.
“Rehana Maryam Noor” boasts an ensemble cast of Azmeri Haque Badhon, Afia Hahin Jaima, Afia tabassum Borno, Kazi Sami Hossain, Yasir Al Haq, Saberi Alam, Abrodit Chowhdury and others.
Azmeri Haque Badhon| Faceook
Actor Badhon told Dhaka Tribune Showtime: “I cried when Saad called me to share the news over phone. I’m still shedding happy tears. This is not the achievement of one film, this honour is for the whole of Bangladesh. This is a historic moment for our country and our cinema. I’m proud to be a part of this indomitable team.”
She thanked the team and the director for putting their faith in her, adding that the character and the process of filming RMN changed her outlook on life.
Director Abdullah Mohammad Saad| Courtesy
The film’s premise revolves around a private medical college teacher, Rehana, who singe-handedly wages a fight for justice on behalf of her 6-year-old daughter and one of her college students.
Rajib Mohajan, Sydul Haque Khandaker, Adnan Habib co-produced the film. Cinematographer Tuhin Tamijul shot the film. Ali Afjal Uzzal and Sayba Talukder completed the production design and the sound design, respectively.
"Live from Dhaka"| Collected
Khelna Chobi’s internationally acclaimed film “Live from Dhaka,” was Saad’s 2016 directorial debut, which won the Best Actor and Best Director awards at the Singapore International Film Festival and has been screened at various international film festivals of the world.
On June 3, the Official Selection of the 74th Festival de Cannes was presented by Pierre Lescure and Thierry Frémaux at the UGC Normandie in Paris.
The news quickly started making the rounds on social media. Netizens did not shy away from singing the praises of the film’s crew and cast members. Many remarked that this achievement heralded a near-term revival of Bangladeshi cinema.
