Saba Review: A Heart Warming Tale of Survival, Family and Poverty in Bangladesh

South Asian cinema is often associated with vivid colours, lively music, and fantastical storylines, leaving little room for gritty, realistic portrayals of life’s harshest struggles. But every now and then, a film emerges that cuts through the sparkle, revealing the raw underbelly of existence, and Saba, the debut film by Maksud Hossain, is one such film. For those familiar with the delicate balance of European neo-realism and its quiet, contemplative style, Saba will strike a resonant chord. This deeply emotional and profoundly human story of a young woman juggling familial duty and personal survival taps into universal themes of obligation, sacrifice, and the crushing weight of poverty.

Hossain crafts a film that stands in contrast to the spectacle-driven narratives of Bollywood, instead offering a narrative that feels achingly real and devoid of melodrama. Saba captures life’s quiet tragedies, where even small moments of respite are fleeting.

The Heart of Saba: A Universal Struggle for Survival

At the core of Saba is its titular character, Saba (played by Mehazabien Chowdhury), a young woman burdened with responsibilities far beyond her years. Her mother, Shirin (Rokeya Prachy), is paralyzed, unable to care for herself, and bitter in her reliance on her daughter. This complex dynamic between mother and daughter forms the emotional center of the film, a delicate dance of obligation, frustration, and unconditional love.

Saba’s life revolves around her mother’s needs cooking, cleaning, bathing, and managing her caustic outbursts. Yet despite her best efforts, Saba finds herself trapped in a never-ending cycle of caregiving that leaves little room for her own desires or dreams. The weight of this responsibility is made even heavier when Shirin’s heart condition deteriorates, requiring an expensive surgery that Saba cannot afford. This sets the stage for the film’s exploration of the broader social and economic constraints that trap women like Saba in cycles of caregiving, poverty, and personal sacrifice.

Saba’s Journey: Navigating Life’s Inescapable Realities

To save her mother’s life, Saba must find a way to come up with the money for the surgery. She takes a job at a seedy hookah lounge, a position frowned upon by society but necessary for survival. It’s here that she meets Ankur (Mostafa Monwar), the manager of the lounge, who becomes both a friend and a complex emotional anchor for Saba.

Ankur, like Saba, is trapped by his circumstances. He dreams of leaving Bangladesh for a better life in France but finds himself mired in the country’s social and religious restrictions. As the two characters grow closer, their struggles mirror each other’s in a way that is both poignant and tragic. The possibility of romance looms, but it is ultimately the recognition of their shared hardships that binds them. These dynamic forms one of the film’s most compelling aspects the tension between hope and despair, between dreams of escape and the relentless pull of duty.

Social Realism at Its Finest: The Craft Behind the Story

Saba shines in its depiction of everyday life in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Cinematographer Barkat Hossain Polash masterfully captures the city in muted, somber tones that reflect the emotional weight of the story. The city feels claustrophobic, a labyrinth of narrow, dingy streets where opportunity is scarce, and escape is even harder to find. The visual storytelling is both subtle and powerful, with the camera often lingering on small moments a fleeting touch, a glance, a sigh that speak volumes about the characters’ inner turmoil.

The apartment where Saba and Shirin live is almost a character in itself. Cramped, dimly lit, and suffocating, it represents the physical and emotional prison that Saba finds herself in. Even the rare moments of warmth, such as when Saba curls up beside her mother in bed, are tinged with sadness and resignation. There is no escape, no respite from the burdens of caregiving and poverty.

Complex Characters in a Simple Setting

What makes Saba stand out from other social dramas is its refusal to paint its characters in broad strokes. Saba is not simply a saintly figure trapped by circumstance, nor is Shirin merely a helpless invalid. Both women are complex, flawed, and deeply human. Shirin’s sharp tongue and difficult personality make her at times unlikable, yet we understand her bitterness it is the result of years of physical pain and emotional helplessness. Likewise, Saba’s moments of frustration and despair are deeply relatable, making her journey all the more heartbreaking.

Ankur, too, is given depth. He is not just the potential love interest, but a man grappling with his own moral compromises in a city that offers little hope. His desire to leave for France is a reflection of the hopelessness he feels in a society where opportunities are scarce, and survival often comes at the expense of personal integrity. Together, Saba and Ankur represent the struggles of Bangladesh’s disaffected youth, caught between tradition and modernity, between obligation and the desire for something more.

The Broader Social Context: Poverty, Obligation, and the Weight of Tradition

Saba is a film deeply rooted in the social realities of Bangladesh, yet its themes are universal. The film speaks to the struggles faced by millions around the world women who bear the brunt of caregiving responsibilities, families trapped in cycles of poverty, and individuals whose dreams are constantly deferred by the harsh realities of life.

In many ways, Saba’s story is a microcosm of the larger issues facing Bangladesh today. The lack of adequate healthcare, the social stigma surrounding certain types of work, and the oppressive weight of familial obligations are all woven into the fabric of the film. Yet, despite its specific setting, the film resonates on a global scale. Anyone who has ever cared for a sick loved one, struggled to make ends meet, or felt trapped by their circumstances will find something to relate to in Saba.

A Powerful Debut from Maksud Hossain

For a first-time director, Maksud Hossain shows remarkable restraint and maturity in his storytelling. Saba is a film that could easily have veered into melodrama or sentimentalism, but Hossain resists these temptations. Instead, he offers a quiet, contemplative film that allows its characters and their struggles to speak for themselves.

Hossain’s direction is subtle yet effective, allowing the performances to take center stage. Chowdhury, in particular, delivers a standout performance as Saba, capturing both her strength and vulnerability with remarkable nuance. The film’s pacing is deliberate, allowing the audience to fully immerse themselves in the emotional weight of the story.

Visuals that Mirror the Emotional Landscape

Saba’s cinematography deserves special mention for the way it complements the film’s narrative. The muted color palette, the use of natural lighting, and the careful framing of each shot all work together to create a visual language that mirrors the characters’ emotional states. The film’s visual style is understated yet powerful, reinforcing the sense of entrapment and isolation that pervades Saba’s world.

From the dimly lit interiors of the apartment to the dreary streets of Dhaka, the film’s visuals evoke a sense of suffocation that is almost palpable. Yet, there are moments of quiet beauty as well a brief walk through sun-dappled trees, a tender moment shared between mother and daughter that offer glimpses of hope amidst the bleakness.

A Conclusion that Lingers Long After the Credits Roll

As Saba reaches its conclusion, it becomes clear that there are no easy answers or tidy resolutions. The film leaves us with a sense of unresolved tension, a reminder that life’s challenges do not always come with clear-cut solutions. This, in many ways, is what makes Saba such a powerful film it reflects the messy, complicated realities of life in a way that few films dare to do.

FAQs

What is the main theme of Saba?
The main theme of Saba revolves around family obligation, poverty, and personal sacrifice. The film explores the emotional and physical toll of caregiving, the impact of poverty on personal freedom, and the struggle between tradition and modernity in Bangladesh.

Is Saba based on a true story?
While Saba is a work of fiction, it draws heavily from the real-life experiences of the director’s wife, who became the primary caregiver for her disabled mother. The film reflects the emotional weight of that experience, making it feel incredibly authentic.

Who are the main actors in Saba?
The main cast includes Mehazabien Chowdhury as Saba, Rokeya Prachy as her mother Shirin, and Mostafa Monwar as Ankur, the manager of the hookah lounge where Saba works.

What is the significance of the film’s setting in Dhaka?
The setting of Dhaka is integral to the film’s narrative. The city’s cramped, oppressive spaces and lack of opportunities reflect the emotional and financial constraints that trap the characters. It serves as a metaphor for the suffocating reality that Saba and others like her face.

How does Saba compare to other social realism films?
Saba fits comfortably within the tradition of social realism, with its focus on everyday struggles and its refusal to offer easy solutions. However, its deeply personal narrative and its specific focus on the Bangladeshi context set it apart from other films in the genre.