Don’t Be Late, Myra
Directed by Afia Nathaniel
Pakistan
Inspired by true events, the story is about a ten-year old Pakistani girl who has missed her school van and now must try and find her way home without a male chaperone. As she marches on silently avoiding the gaze of men, a rickshaw driver pulls up asking if he can drop her home. Myra must navigate a new reality where walking home alone means learning to deal with stalkers.
Pakistani-American filmmaker, Afia Nathaniel, debuted with DUKHTAR – a road trip thriller that premiered at Toronto in 2014, represented Pakistan at the Oscars and played to critical acclaim in over 20 countries to rave reviews. It was the Critics’ Pick (Village Voice), labelled as “exquisite” by New York Times and billed as “a road journey to end all road journeys” by Huffington Post.
Her latest short DON’T BE LATE, MYRA - a survival thriller - is now Oscar® qualified. Deeply personal in its origins, the film draws on Afia’s own childhood experiences and her perspective as a survivor of assault.