Bangladesh’s Maksud Hossain Brings Emotional Debut ‘Saba’ to Toronto

Bangladeshi filmmaker Maksud Hossain is set to unveil his feature directorial debut “Saba” at the Toronto Film Festival. The film tells the story of a young woman who is the sole caregiver for her paraplegic mother in Dhaka.

The project emerged from personal experience. Hossain’s wife Trilora Khan has been the primary caregiver for her paraplegic mother for 25 years following a car accident. After his father-in-law passed away suddenly from COVID-19, Hossain and Khan, who co-wrote the script, began developing a story about a lower-middle class woman in Dhaka facing caregiving challenges without family support or financial resources.

“We started thinking about what if we tell a story of a young woman, Saba, who lives in lower-middle class Dhaka, and she is taking care of her paraplegic mother by herself, without any family, without money. What would Saba do in a situation like this to make sure that her mother lives at any cost?” Hossain told Variety.

Casting was crucial, with Hossain auditioning numerous actors before selecting Bangladeshi TV superstar Mehazabien Chowdhury (“Forget Me Not”), making her film debut, to play Saba. He insisted on a six-month rehearsal process to develop the character. Veteran actor Rokeya Prachy (“Doob – No Bed of Roses”) was cast as the mother after sharing a personal story that resonated with the director. Mostafa Monwar, known for his work in art house Bangladeshi cinema, including “Live From Dhaka” and “No Ground Beneath the Feet,” was also cast in a key role, creating an intriguing contrast with Chowdhury’s celebrity status in Bangladesh.

The filming process was emotionally charged, particularly during the shooting of a pivotal scene. Hossain recounted, “I would see the crew crying between takes, and I was just holding my tears somehow, trying to manage.” The director encouraged Chowdhury to tap into deep emotions, resulting in a series of intense takes that left the actress visibly shaken.

Hossain cites the Dardenne brothers, Ritwik Ghatak and Satyajit Ray as influences, praising their ability to achieve emotional truth and simplicity. He hopes “Saba” will provide audiences an emotional experience about the difficulty of letting go of a loved one.

The film depicts some of the challenges of life in Dhaka, with Hossain noting he aimed to reflect issues regularly discussed by residents. “The sewage water gets mixed with the shower water, and people are showering with sewage water, and it smells like sewage, even in neighborhoods where they pay exorbitant prices for real estate,” he said.

“Saba” marks a significant moment for Hossain, who has dreamed of making feature films since his youth in Abu Dhabi and a stint in the U.S. He previously directed 15 short films, including the Student Academy Award-winning “Three Beauties.” He moved back to Bangladesh to realize his dream of directing feature films.

Hossain sees “Saba” as part of a resurgence in Bangladeshi cinema, citing recent festival successes like Abdullah Mohammad Saad’s Cannes-bowing “Rehana” and crediting increased access to world cinema as inspiration for a new generation of filmmakers. The director is already developing his next project, a loose trilogy on the lines of Lars von Trier’s Golden Heart trilogy.

Bangladesh is going through an epochal period with the government being overthrown after a period of mass youth protests. “I hope the worst is behind us and we are moving towards a better future. My heart goes out to all the people, all the students who lost their lives and their family and families and their friends, that’s such a tragic part that’s going to be part of our history forever. But I hope all the lives that have been sacrificed, it means something where it creates a more meaningful and better future for us Bangladeshis,” Hossain said.

Producers on “Saba” include Uri Singer (“White Noise”), Arifur Rahman (“Amar Colony”), Tamim Abdul Majid, Hossain, Khan, Chowdhury and DoP Barkat Hossain Polash. Co-producers include Leena Khobragade, Kowsheek, Juan J. Lazo Jr., Humair Sabir and Nafis Uddin.

The next stop for “Saba” is the Busan International Film Festival.