Deedan

First I need to make it clear that I do not understand Urdu or Hindu so my comprehension of the intricacies of the plot of this shimmering Pakistani Drama is limited to the reading of faces and actions. (And I've watched only 10 episodes so far.) That said, I find the drama mesmerizing and addictive. I feel like I am seeing first-hand what it would be like to live in a "traditional" society that has no qualms about treating women as chattel. The story follows two friends from a rural village: One girl serendipitously finds fortune in the big city while under the thumb of her husband; The other is forced to remain in the mountains in a warped family situation. With the alluring and rugged landscape of rural Pakistan as the backdrop for many scenes, the visuals are often hypnotic. And while there are some problems with sound quality and over-the-top acting at times, lead actress Sanam Saeed as village girl Resham, is consistently well directed, subtle and poignant in her expressions. Her urban foil in the charming Minsa Malik is also a bright spot. I think that "Deedan" is a brave look at an exotic and inscrutable culture, its many tenacious veils and the hidden oppression of its females.