World Cinema: Reel Q Presents “The Queen of My Dreams”

A dazzling Bollywood inspired Pride-Month screening, depicting the intertwined lives of a conservative mother and her queer daughter. 

Reel Stories is a free film series dedicated to showcasing international queer cinema. Our June Reel Q screening presents the regional premiere screening of The Queen of My Dreams, a dramedy spanning 30 years in the life of a Pakistani-Canadian family, written and directed by Fawzia Mirza. 

It’s 1999. 22-year-old queer Pakistani grad student Azra (Amrit Kaur) lives in Toronto with her girlfriend and has a strained relationship with her conservative mother Mariam (Nimra Bucha). When her father suddenly dies on a trip home to Pakistan, Azra immediately flies home for the burial. Impacted by the sounds and smells of a city that are so distant and yet so familiar, Azra finds herself on a Bollywood-inspired journey through memories, both real and imagined; from her mother’s youth in Karachi to her own coming- of-age in rural Canada.

The Queen of My Dreams is a fresh, vibrant exploration of intergenerational connections between mothers and daughters, as well as connections between East and West, and past and present. It is infused with humor, romance, music, and Bollywood fantasy, inspired by personal experiences and family stories, and intertwined with Pakistani history and collective memory. This triumph of a film shows the expansive journey of women seeking to define and decide their own paths, while simultaneously learning—and remembering—how to love.

This screening is followed by a live Q&A with director Fawzia Mirza, who will be joining virtually.

About Reel Q:

Reel Q is one of the oldest LGBTQ+ film festivals in the world. Starting in 1985, Reel Q’s mission has been to increase the availability and accessibility of queer film in Pittsburgh and its surrounding region, highlighting the diverse experiences of our worldwide community. 

About Your Visit: 

The in-house restaurant 40 North is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, but a cash wine bar will be available. There will also be free snacks available for attendees.