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    Film Review: Cake

    Written by: Momina Mindeel
    Posted on: April 02, 2018 | | 中文

    (L-R) Sanam Saeed as Zara, Mohammed Ahmed as Abba, Aamina Sheikh as Zareen, Adnan Malik as Romeo and Beo Rana as Amma

    Before Khuda Kay Liye was released in 2007, the future of the Pakistani film industry seemed rather bleak. However, in recent years, with films like Bol, Actor in Law, Janaan and Punjab Nahi Jaungi, it seems like there might actually be light at the end of the tunnel. When Cake’s trailer was released last year in July, the entire film industry praised it. As an optimistic person, I hoped for the best too, and prayed it wouldn’t be a bad deal in pretty packaging. Last Friday, I entered the cinema with high expectations, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that not only did Cake meet them, it surpassed them. 

    Aamina Sheikh as Zareen

    Aamina Sheikh as Zareen

    The film revolves around a dysfunctional family of five; Zareen (Aamina Sheikh), the middle child who has compromised on her dreams to take care of her parents, their farmlands and pretty much everything else around the house, Zara (Sanam Saeed), the youngest child who has been living in UK for many years and the eldest, Zain (Faris Khalid), who lives in New York with his wife, a kid and their parents (Mohammad Ahmed and Beo Rana Zafar). The family reunites after the parents’ health starts deteriorating. Following their reunion, situations arise where the family is compelled to confront each other and deal with their grievances, regrets, grudges, secrets, happiness and everything else in between. The film has just the right amount of wit and humor, balanced by the right amount of tragedy.

    Aamina Sheikh as Zareen and Mohammed Ahmed as Abba

    Aamina Sheikh as Zareen and Mohammed Ahmed as Abba

    While you are watching it, you feel as if somebody has captured a family’s life, unbeknownst to them. Everything about it, from the brief moments between the siblings, to the romance between Beo Rana and Mohammad Ahmed, is very realistic. It seems like the debutante director, Asim Abbasi, has an eye for minute details, and this makes Cake all the more wonderful to watch. The most remarkable thing about the movie is the portrayal of the relationships between the three siblings. With nothing glamorous or exaggerated about the relationships of the siblings, the film captures them joking around and talking to each other.

    From Beo Rana to Zareen’s love interest and her father’s caregiver, Romeo (Adnan Malik), everyone puts up stellar performances. We are all aware of Aamina Sheikh and Sanam Saeed’s acting prowess, but Asim Abbasi brings out the very best in them.

    Adnan Malik as Romeo and Aamina Sheikh as Zareen

    Adnan Malik as Romeo and Aamina Sheikh as Zareen

    As for the music, tracks like Tiri Pawanda, Meri Dunya and several renditions of folk Sindhi music, give the film a local cultural atmosphere. There are absolutely no item numbers, no uncalled for glamour and not a single scene that could be categorized as extra. Perhaps the most delightful aspect of Cake was that its characters aren’t defined by their love interests or relationships. Their insecurities, grievances and thought patterns are what make them who they are, and Asim Abbasi seems to have been successful in portraying this for us.

    Sanam Saeed as Zara

    Sanam Saeed as Zara

    I would give Cake 4.8 out of 5 stars. Please do yourself a favor and go watch the film, and don’t forget to take family along; they might end up learning a thing or two about familial bonds. What differentiates Cake from the spate of recent Pakistani films is its realism, and it leaves the viewer with a lasting impact.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021