Pakistani film Cake becomes official entry for 91st Oscar under foreign language film category
Pakistan joined the Oscar race by officially choosing their film Cake to be submitted under the foreign language film category for the 91st Oscar Awards. The Pakistani comedy-drama film is directed by Asim Abbasi and produced by the filmmaker’s UK-based production company Indus Talkies. The film stars Sanam Saeed and Aamina Sheikh in the lead roles along with Adnan Malik, who has debuted with the film.
Cake is a heartwarming story of a woman who takes care of her aging parents. Zindagi Gulzar Hai fame Sanam Saeed is playing Zara while Aamina plays Zareen. The film is being critically praised in homeland Pakistan and at international level as well. The Guardian described this film writing, “Pakistani cinema has long struggled to match its Indian cousin’s commercial reach, but this impressive debut from Asim Abbasi feels like a sound bet, and even quietly revolutionary in places."
Terming the film as trendy, Abbasi expects more people to come up with similar stories. Pakistan first submitted 'The Day Shall Dawn' to the Oscars in 1959, but post its 1963 submission, the country's cinema industry went through a rough patch.
It was in 2013 that they started submitting films again under the said category. However, they are yet to be nominated for an Oscar.
Cake collected around Rs 12 crore worldwide. It was also showcased at London Asian Film Festival where it won Best Director for Asim Abbasi.
