A poignant tale of struggle and resilience in ‘Saba’
A debut that resonates deeply
A sense of financial and personal stagnation permeates “Saba,” a Bangladeshi social drama from first-time director Maksud Hossain. This strong, albeit stylistically straightforward, debut follows 25-year-old Saba (Mehazabien Chowdhury) as she navigates the harsh realities of life while caring for her ailing, paraplegic single mother, Shirin (Rokeya Prachy). Shirin’s frustrations often explode in Saba’s direction, adding to the young woman’s already heavy burden.
The weight of caregiving
To fund Shirin’s life-saving surgery, Saba takes a waitressing job at a seedy hookah lounge in Dhaka. The long hours and demeaning nature of the job only complicate her caregiving duties. Saba’s daily life is a series of indignities, from begging for the job to managing her mother’s needs. Shirin, bedridden and dependent, waits for Saba to bathe her and change her diaper, highlighting the scarcity of disability infrastructure in their society.
A story rooted in reality
While tales of such misfortune risk veering into pity porn, Hossain draws from real experiences. The director’s wife and co-writer, Trilora Khan, became the sole caregiver to her disabled mother after her father’s death. “Saba” is a work of fiction, but it emerges from a real, painful place where the act of keeping someone alive becomes a laborious task for both parties.
The emotional and physical prison
Shirin’s inability to leave her building due to the narrow staircase turns her cramped apartment into a physical prison. For Saba, it becomes an emotional prison, as her thoughts are always back home, worrying about her mother. The only person who understands her predicament is her manager, Ankur (Mostafa Monwar). Initially strict, Ankur reveals greater depth as Saba gets to know him.
Mutual recognition of struggles
There are moments of romantic tension between Saba and Ankur, but their mutual recognition of each other’s struggles is what truly matters. Ankur, like Saba and Shirin, feels bound to a city that offers little love and few opportunities. He runs an illicit liquor business on the side while saving money to move abroad. The film portrays a world where everyone is just trying to get by, sometimes at the expense of others.
A reflection of societal issues
“Saba” captures the plight of Bangladesh’s lower and middle classes. Although the film was made before the country’s recent protests, it resonates with the frustrations over financial stability that fueled those demonstrations. This makes “Saba” a pressing work of social realism, expressing the discontent of the nation’s youth in quiet but poignant ways.
Cinematic style and performance
Hossain often observes from a distance, reminiscent of the Dardenne brothers, though his control of mood and emotion isn’t as finessed. The story moves quickly, allowing the actors to perform with commitment and aplomb. The filmmaking is often rote, with functional framing and editing. However, when the camera focuses on Chowdhury’s close-ups, she crafts a multifaceted portrait of a woman on the brink, making it hard not to care deeply about Saba.
A near-great debut
“Saba” features wildly interesting characters and subject matter, coming close to greatness if it would hold on its drama a little longer. Despite this, it remains an accomplished debut and an effective political mirror to a fraught moment in modern Bangladeshi history.
For those interested in exploring more about the film, you can watch the trailer and find additional information on Saba.
This article aims to provide a comprehensive and personal perspective on “Saba,” enriching the content with insights and reflections for cinema enthusiasts. The film’s portrayal of struggle and resilience offers a poignant look at the societal issues faced by many, making it a significant work in contemporary Bangladeshi cinema.