

She wanted a miracle baby. She got a cursed marriage. Karachi's fertility shrine giveth and taketh away.
Alistair, a British representative for a wildlife conservation agency based in Karachi and his Jewish-American wife Hannah have been unsuccessful at conceiving a child. Over time, the desire to have a child begins to consume Hannah and she persuades a reluctant Alistair to go with her for three days to a fertility shrine. After a ceremony during which Hannah converts to Islam and coaxes Alistair to do the same, she becomes pregnant. But Hannah’s joy at the discovery of her pregnancy is overshadowed by worsening relations with Alistair who has started an affair with their friend Samira and tensions begin to mount when eunuchs from the shrine start to harass the couple.
Acting
Melissa Leo's unraveling is genuinely unhinged
Cinematography
Karachi's contradictions shot like fever dreams
Direction
Dehlavi's British-Pakistani lens is merciless

Director
Jamil Dehlavi
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Features actual hijra community members, rare authentic representation for 1992.
Melissa Leo made this between Oscar nominations nobody remembers; her performance here is arguably wilder.