Witness: Pakistan: No Place Like Home is a 2019 documentary film that explores the life of a Pakistani family who, after living in the UK for 30 years, decides to return to their homeland. The film is part of the Witness series, produced by Al Jazeera English, which aims to give a platform to people whose stories are often overlooked by mainstream media.
The film follows the family of Qurban Ali, a retired British police officer, and his wife Zubaida, who decide to sell their house in the UK and move back to their village in Pakistan. Their decision to leave behind their comfortable life in the West is driven by the desire to reconnect with their roots and live closer to their extended family.
The film opens with Qurban and Zubaida packing up their belongings in their UK home, reminiscing about their life in Britain and expressing their anxieties about moving back to Pakistan. Their adult children, who have decided to remain in the UK, also share their concerns about their parentsâ decision to return to Pakistan, worrying about their safety and the challenges they might face in adjusting to a new environment.
As the family arrives in Pakistan, the film captures their arrival at the airport and their first encounters with their relatives. The family visits their ancestral home, which has since fallen into disrepair, and begins to plan its renovation.
Throughout the film, the family members acclimatize to their new surroundings and learn to navigate the cultural and social differences they encounter. They encounter a variety of characters, including a local politician, a traditional healer, and a barber who offers his customers the option to have their face painted with henna.
The film offers a glimpse into the familyâs daily life in Pakistan, including their interactions with their neighbors, their involvement in community events, and their efforts to renovate their home. It also provides insight into the challenges facing Pakistan, such as infrastructure issues, corruption, and poverty.
The film also explores the familyâs sense of identity and belonging, as they grapple with their shifting identities as Pakistani-British expatriates returning to their ancestral homeland. Zubaida, in particular, expresses her nostalgia for England and the difficulties she faces in adjusting to life in Pakistan.
Throughout the film, the familyâs sense of longing for âhomeâ and their struggle to reconcile their âwesternâ identity with their Pakistani roots are palpable. The film offers a nuanced portrayal of their experience, capturing moments of joy, frustration, and anxiety as they navigate their new lives.
The documentary is shot in an observational style, allowing the familyâs story to unfold naturally without overt commentary or judgment. The filmmakers intersperse interviews with the family members with scenes of daily life, creating a rich and textured portrait of their experiences.
In conclusion, Witness: Pakistan: No Place Like Home is a compelling and emotional documentary that offers a rare view into the lives of Pakistani-British expatriates returning to their homeland. The film captures the challenges and joys of their experience, highlighting the complexities of identity and belonging in todayâs globalized world.
Witness: Pakistan: No Place Like Home is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 25 minutes.
