"In the Name of God"

Khuda kay liye (slightly misleadingly translated into English as “In the Name of God”) is a movie about a young ex-pat Pakistani woman who, having grown up in England, is tricked by her father into a forced marriage back in Pakistan. It also follows the fortunes of two brothers (living in Lahore), both musicians, one of whom is radicalised by a “Taliban”-type mullah. The other goes to the United States to study music, and falls foul of the CIA, post 9/11.

Although slightly long, it is an interesting, challenging, and somewhat "controversial" examination of a range of Muslim attitudes to their religion, the West, and the place of women. The dialogue is largely in Urdu, with some English, and there are English subtitles throughout. Lea and I saw it at a special showing at a local cinema: the event was put on by Pakiwis (a newly formed organisation for New Zealand Pakistanis) to raise funds for the displaced peoples of Pakistan. It may be available on DVD.