Worker Film Review

Star rating: 4/5

Writer: Mohsin Tariq

Director: Mohsin Tariq

Starring: Nazar ul Hassan and Zulfiqar Ghouri

Worker is a mysterious tale of grief and courage.

The story is based on the re-appearance of Shabir, the main character, who disappeared a decade previously in circumstances not made clear, although a viewer’s theory could be political reasons, given the title, opening scene and a revealing scene involving Shabir’s belongings towards the middle of the film. As the audience, we also don’t know the circumstances in which he has re-appeared, but we do know he has not been home yet.

We start the story with Shabir calling his cousin on a borrowed phone, which he struggles to use. By chance, his cousin is next to him, outside shops in what seems to be a high street. Becoming emotional, Shabir asks him how his family is doing and is told by his cousin to ‘come and meet them’. From then on, the story is one of grief and seizing hostile circumstances. Worker is set in the deeply atmospheric location of a small town in what seems to be rural Pakistan- we see street shops, houses that seem to be empty, a busy bus station, and even a Persian rug shop where Shabir appears to be working.

Technically the film is simple, shot in the drama style- the opening ground level medium shot of Shabir walking on a wide, long dirt road, is a great choice to catch the viewers eye, and there is also a strikingly warm medium shot of Shabir looking into the distance on a golden sunset. The dialogue is realistic, and direct which is a creatively great choice, fitting the tone of the story.  Worker features really great performances, in particular from Nazar UI Hassan as the lead actor, who plays Shabir with depth and thoughtfulness, and clearly with great respect for the film.

What is it like to have to re-build your life from scratch and re-unite with now distant loved ones, and in particular when destruction and its resulting isolation has been caused, as it seems here, by man-made events and circumstances? Is it even possible? Worker poses these questions and explores them with a level of honesty and sensitivity not often seen in film currently.