Experiencing Interruptions?

A Soldier Besides Me

A Soldier Beside Me is a psychological drama that explores the internal psyche of a soldier in his final moments. Set in a desolate, smoke-filled jungle following a skirmish, the story centers on Soldier 1, a 27-year-old infantryman. He is joined by Soldier 2, a cynical and vocal companion who challenges the traditional notions of military duty, hierarchy, and sacrifice.

  • Ameer Hamza
    Director
  • Ameer Hamza
    Writer
  • Ameer Hamza
    Producer
  • Syed Mati Mukhtalif
    Key Cast
  • Muhammad Affan
    Key Cast
  • Syed Asad Raza Abidi
    Director of Photography
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 14 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 26, 2026
  • Country of Origin:
    Pakistan
  • Country of Filming:
    Pakistan
  • Language:
    Urdu
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Indus University
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Ameer Hamza

Ameer Hamza is an emerging filmmaker who focuses on psychological narratives and the deconstruction of national identity. With a background in dramatic storytelling, Hamza’s work often explores the intersection between childhood innocence and the harsh realities of adulthood. His directorial style is characterized by a "grounded-yet-surreal" atmosphere, utilizing tight dialogue and claustrophobic settings to mirror the internal mental state of his characters. In A Soldier Beside Me, he draws on cultural touchstones specific to the Pakistani experience to create a story that is both deeply local and universally human.

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Director Statement

With A Soldier Beside Me, my goal was to look past the uniform and into the fractured mind of a person facing their final moments. We often grow up idolizing the idea of 'the soldier' through media and folklore, seeing them as invincible figures of duty. I wanted to contrast that childhood 'play' with the devastating silence of the aftermath.

The conversation between the two soldiers is not just a debate about war; it is a dialogue between a man’s conditioned sense of duty and his suppressed, cynical subconscious. By revealing that Soldier 2 is a figment of the protagonist's imagination, the film shifts from a war drama to a character study on isolation.The metaphor of the Wazir (the pawn or minister) dreaming of

being a Badshah (the king) is central to the film. It represents the tragic realization that many who give everything for a 'greater cause' are often the most expendable. This film is an invitation to question the stories we are told as children and the reality we inherit as adults.