Noor: Short film challenging society’s stigma

N

oor’ is a profound short film, only 17 minutes long, challenging the stigma around weak eyesight and appearance. It won “Best Health Film” at Cannes World Film Festival in March 2023.

Directed by Umer Adil, it features a stellar cast including Sarwat Gilani, Omair Rana, Tanisha Shameem, Mizna Waqas, and Tasneem Ansari.

Profound Story

The story revolves around Noor, a girl who can’t wear glasses until she saves her grandmother’s life.

In the beginning of the film, we see Noor in the classroom, struggling to see the blackboard clearly due to her poor eyesight. Her friend, who wears glasses, helps her with her assignment.

This highlights the contrast between a child with glasses and one without, symbolizing the impact of not allowing a bright child to reach their full potential due to societal perceptions.

When Noor arrives home, the camera focuses on the beautifully hand-painted decor, showcasing her mother’s lost passion due to her deteriorating eyesight.

The scene is interrupted by the distressed calls of Noor’s grandmother, upset over a poorly stitched button. Sadly, Jabeen, Noor’s mother, is not allowed to wear glasses at home, fearing her husband’s disapproval.

She hurriedly removes them when he returns.

Climax

During a family dinner scene, the film beautifully captures multiple themes. Jabeen’s bandaged thumb suggests she avoids wearing glasses while doing chores, causing pain.

The grandmother’s advice to visit a Peer Sahab reflects society’s misguided preference for alternative remedies. Ironically, the Peer Sahab cannot cure Jabeen’s eyesight.

The family’s concern is not her well-being but her appearance. Jabeen defends her glasses, explaining their importance for her vision.

In the family dinner scene, the film subtly comments on societal expectations by portraying the mother-in-law’s remark about Jabeen looking older than her husband with glasses.

This reflects the prevalent belief that women should prioritize their husband’s happiness over their own well-being.

In a powerful scene, the film highlights the significance of eye care by showcasing Noor’s teacher and classmate as saviors who help her regain her self-confidence.

During a free eye check-up at school, Noor receives her own glasses. However, when her father angrily breaks them upon seeing her, it mirrors the injustice her mother faces.

This moment is juxtaposed with Noor’s poster, depicting a happy girl wearing glasses, symbolizing the contrast between her current reality and an ideal world.

In a crucial moment, Noor’s grandmother falls ill while Jabeen is away. As the family panics, Noor, wearing her glasses, notices that the medicine has expired.

This realization makes Noor’s father realize the importance of proper eye care and how wrong he was to deny it to her. The very thing he despised ends up saving his mother’s life.

In a heartfelt gesture, Noor’s father reflects on his actions and presents Jabeen with a new pair of glasses. He then fixes Noor’s spectacles and publicly gives them to her in front of her classmates, acknowledging his poor judgment.

Just in time, he brings Noor’s poster that beautifully says, “Transform your weakness into strength. Overcome every obstacle,” a lesson taught by her teacher.

Sightsavers Production

This short film, produced by Sightsavers, an international NGO working for visual impairment welfare, beautifully portrays the stigma around wearing glasses and the emotional and physical challenges of not receiving proper eye care.

It highlights the importance of acknowledging and accepting that weak eyesight is nothing to be ashamed of.