In Flames

Directed by Zarrar Kahn, In Flames follows Ramesha Nawal’s Mariam as she attempts to hold her family together in the wake of a personal tragedy. Filmmaker Kahn, working from his own screenplay, has infused In Flames with an exceedingly (and sometimes excessively) deliberate pace that does suit the character-study-like atmosphere, admittedly, and there’s little doubt that the movie benefits substantially from Kahn’s steady visuals and a thoroughly striking and impressive central performance by Nawal. The ongoing inclusion of unexpectedly sinister elements, including repeated sightings of seemingly deceased figures, does elevate one’s interest on a recurring basis, while the movie’s pointed examination of the backwards culture within which Mariam resides regularly enhances its overall impact. And while the presence of the movie’s aforementioned spooky attributes isn’t entirely paid off to a satisfactory degree (ie it’s all in service of a fairly generic subplot involving Mariam’s past trauma), In Flames nevertheless comes off as a solid debut that bodes well for Kahn’s future endeavors behind the camera.

**1/2 out of ****