Private Project

For God's Sake

A meditation on the power of ritual in informing one’s quality of life. The exploitation of devotion. The Seamstress navigates mirrors of her maternal parallels seeking to reconcile an unrequited love.

  • Basit Khan
    Director
  • Basit Khan
    Writer
  • Suriyah Fatima
    Writer
  • Jack Clarke
    Producer
    Nobody Loves You and You Don't Deserve to Exist (2022)
  • Isobel Glenton
    Executive Producer
  • Ameera Khalid
    Key Cast
    "Young Seamstress"
  • Narinder Uppal
    Key Cast
    "The Seamstress "
  • Bhasker Patel
    Key Cast
    "Janab Ji"
    Temple of Doom (1984), Emmerdale (1972 - 2023)
  • Hannah Shamailah
    Key Cast
    "Sadz"
  • Noor Al Ain
    Key Cast
    "Meeri"
  • Bushi Khan
    Key Cast
    "Abdaal 1/40 "
  • James Samuel
    Director of Photography
  • Basit Khan
    Editor
  • Tommy Ryoma Hannaway
    Sound Design & Music Composer
  • Jack Clarke
    First Assistant Director
    Nobody Loves You and You Don't Deserve to Exist (2022)
  • John Featherstone
    Production Designer
  • Sam Richards
    Production Assistant
  • Caitlyn Walker
    Production Assistant
  • Madalena Nicolau
    Production Assistant
  • Shaheer Pervez
    Production Assistant
  • Gwyn Hemmings
    Lighting Technician
  • Oliver Neate
    Foley Artist
  • Josh Gorodecky
    Gaffer
  • Lucy Harding
    Assistant Camera
  • Aiden Bushell
    Assistant Camera
  • Josh Lenaghan
    Assistant Camera
  • Joe Lawrence
    Costume/Hair & Make-up
  • Tanya Al-Khalifa
    Costume/Hair & Make-up
  • Damon Hannah
    Sound Recordist
  • Josh Hover
    Sound Recordist
  • Jack Turk
    Sound Recordist
  • Juan De Leon-Padmore
    Unit Stills Photographer
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 58 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 1, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English, Urdu
  • Shooting Format:
    Sony S-log
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • A City Seen/ The Next Generation - HOME Short Film Showcase
    Manchester
    United Kingdom
    April 30, 2024
    First Screening
    'Best Film'
  • National Festival of Making
    Blackburn - Tony's Ballroom
    United Kingdom
    July 6, 2024
    Blackburn Premiere
    Official Selection
  • 'Estates of Mind' - Short film showcase @Gorse Hill Studios
    Manchester
    United Kingdom
    July 5, 2024
    N/A
    Official Selection
  • Bury Art Musuem - Moving Image Gallery Exhibition
    Bury
    United Kingdom
    September 24, 2024
    Art Exhibition/Bury premiere
    Local acclaim
  • Blair Road Alternative Art School
    Stockport
    United Kingdom
    October 8, 2024
    Screening + Discussion
  • An Extrospective Introspection
    NOM Club
    United Kingdom
    October 19, 2024
    Film Showcase
Director Biography - Basit Khan

Basit Khan is a multimedia artist driven by a deep commitment to telling stories that resonate with his cultural heritage and personal journey. His debut film, For God's Sake, offers a raw and unflinching portrayal of the South Asian experience in Bury, with a distinct focus on amplifying female voices within the community. This project marked a pivotal step in his exploration of cultural intersectionality and the nuanced personal struggles within these narratives.

Basit's artistic vision extends beyond film into immersive art installations like Ode to the Mud Road, showcased at the Hacienda 2 exhibition—a tribute to the resilience and complexity of the Kashmiri diaspora. Drawing inspiration from Paul Schrader’s transcendental cinema and his own Sufi roots, Basit navigates the intricate landscape of being a queer Muslim creative.

His work boldly challenges colonial narratives, offering fresh, authentic perspectives that seek to redefine the diaspora experience.

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Director Statement

"For God's Sake" is a meditation on the power of ritual in informing one’s quality of life. It explores the exploitation of devotion through the journey of a seamstress who navigates mirrors of her maternal parallels, seeking to reconcile an unrequited love—a love lost between the murmurs of tradition and the mutilated modern. This film delves into the isolation of an existence materialized in a duty consigned versus a duty sought. It reflects the inhibitions inherited by the traumas of diaspora, acting as blockades in the surrender of oneself to the divine, yet to be recognized through the mundane.

This project is deeply personal and resonates with the community of Bury, particularly the working-class and British Pakistani women whose stories often remain untold. Inspired by my Sufi background and the teachings of Bulleh Shah, the film strives to transcend conventional narratives, capturing the spiritual and existential dimensions of our lives. It is a homage to the resilience and enduring spirit of those navigating the complexities of diaspora and identity.

Through "For God's Sake," I aim to shed light on the quiet defiance and strength found in our everyday rituals and spiritual practices, offering a poignant exploration of love, duty, and self-discovery.