Mustache
Growing up is hard . grow up with a mustache that started to grow out before hitting pubescence is even harder . Add to the fact that Ilyas is a Pakistani American teen break down to public schooling for the first time , and one can expect a few shenanigans to be had . Written and directed by Imran J. Khan , Mustacheis a touching , sometimes humourous approaching of eld . The motion picture is n’t shy about wearing its substance on its arm , and though it does n’t cut into too mystifying into certain aspect of Ilyas ’ life , Khan handles the story and the master graphic symbol ’s feelings gently .
Ilyas ’ ( Atherma Verma ) mustache started growing at the age of ten . He ’s been stick with it ever since and , despite being 14 age old , his parent ( Rizwan Manji and Mojeane Sadr ) wo n’t let him shave it . Due to his Church Father ’s flailing business , Ilyas is also faced with a big modification , moving from his Islamic school to a public schooltime . Feeling like he does n’t fit in , Ilyas concocts a plan with his friend Yasmeen ( Ayana Manji ): She writes Ilyas emails pretending to be his new girl in the hopes that his parent will feel out and send him back to the school day where he at least make love all the rule .
Mustacheisn’t trying to do anything out of the average , but Khan handle the subject subject with ease and a deep sense of warmth . Ilyas is a relatable character who is simply having a tough clock time transition to a new school and feel like he does n’t fit in — be it because of his ethnicity and faith or his look weird compared to the other pupil at his Muslim schooltime . Ilyas sputter even more because he does n’t live up to his parents ’ expectation of him , and he ’s often feeling like a letdown , specially when he and so many other boys are compared to Arun , the high school senior who is seen as an example of what every Muslim younker should aspire to be .
Atherma Verma is wonderful as Ilyas . He soak the fictitious character with the right amount of teen awkwardness and sincerity . When he ’s overcome with sure emotions , and does n’t bonk how to convey them , Verma ’s functioning allows the audience to believe that he would take out his thwarting on others . Rizwan Manji is terrific as Ilyas ’ Padre , and though he gets less to exercise with , he gives everything he ’s got to the function , making the fiber kindly . The eternal rest of the hold up cast is great as well despite not make enough time to shine .
There are certain constituent ofMustachethat could have been expanded upon — admit Ilyas ’ human relationship with his Padre , which is only in short explored . There are a lot of layers there that go unearthed unfortunately , and while the film is no less earnest because of it , the Father-God / son dynamic could have been flesh out further had it been more of a focus . This might have affordedMustachea spot more profundity and high emotional stake .
That say , the film remains an enjoyable watch no matter . Khan infusesMustachewith rawness splashed with a bit of awkwardness , which effectively capsulize Ilyas’coming - of - historic period write up . The film is full of heart and humor , and the message of self - acceptance in a world where there is pressure level to be anyone but oneself is affirming and lovely . pad by a antic carrying into action by Verma , Mustachemakes for a angelical and wholesome viewing experience .
Mustachehad its premiere at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival on March 12 . The film is 81 minutes long and not yet rated .
Mustache is a comedy - dramatic play / coming - of - age movie that keep up a fourteen - year - sure-enough son named Ilyas who is suddenly taken from his private school and thrust into the complex mankind of public shoal . Missing his honest-to-goodness school , where he felt right at home , Ilyas must now contend with grow insecurity and a pre - puberulent moustache that his parents have disallow him to shave .
