Deborah Young of '' The Hollywood Reporter '' reviewed the film glowingly , " The story has all the makings of a great against-all-odds adventure tale , abetted by spectacular location shooting and an outcome that is never a foregone conclusion ... Afia Nathaniel ’s feature directing debut generates enough tension to fuel a harrowing real-life story while adding another unforgettable heroine to cinema from the region with Samiya Mumtaz ’s measured portrayal of a Muslim woman taking charge of her life . " Theodora Munroe of '' The Upcoming '' gave it five stars and said , " Well-acted and beautifully written , Dukhtar thrills and stirs . " Writer Mohsin Hamid said , " Dukhtar is a wonderful , impressive film . It shows how quickly Pakistani cinema is progressing . " Samina Peerzada said of young actress Saleha Aref , " The little girl in Dukhtar - a star is born . " Academy award winner director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy said , " Dukhtar has set a new precedent in filmmaking in Pakistan . The film 's powerful narrative is met with equally strong visuals that collectively showcase what Pakistani talent is all about . I have no doubt that the story will resonate with people locally and internationally . " Actress Meesha Shafi praised the film , actress and director , " Simple yet full of impact . Dukhtar highlights a subject that desperately needs attention . Sensitive yet spirited portrayal of Allah Rakkhi by Samia Mumtaz . The Pakistani landscape is shot with a beautiful eye . Afia Nathanial has arrived . " Film producer Iram Parveen Bilal said , " Dukhtar is a story told with visually striking images , sensitive characters and most importantly , with a heart . I wish it all my best for its Oscar submission . " Maliha Rehman reviewed the film for '' " Dawn " newspaper '' , " Dukhtar or ' daughter ' has a title that is self-explanatory to a large extent ... What the title does not relay , though , are the subtle nuances that flow through the storyline , the direction that seamlessly traverses the breathtaking landscape of Northern Pakistan all the way down to urban Lahore and the acting that holds it all together . All this , coupled with a heartrending storyline , makes Dukhtar well worth the watch . " She also said , " As a harbinger to the much-touted ' Revival of Pakistani Cinema ' , Dukhtar highlights the strengths of the industry . A strong plot , coupled with fabulous music , some very good actors and watertight direction – Dukhtar has no allusions towards Bollywood or Hollywood and it does n't need to . With its highs and few lows , its stronger elements and faults , it 's a completely Pakistani story , told from a completely Pakistani perspective ; a story well-told . " Nicholas Bell of '' Ion Cinema '' reviewed the film , " Samiya Mumtaz manages to be rather mesmerizing as a soft-spoken wife that surprises herself with her own survival skills . " Dushka H Saiyid reviewed the film for '' Youlin Magazine '' , " From a country that is being swept by floods , and pushed towards anarchy , comes an indie film called '' Dukhtar '' , showcased at the International Toronto Film Festival . Making her debut with this creative offering , Afia Nathaniel has written , directed and produced Dukhtar . Like some of its recent predecessors , Khuda Kay Liye , Bol and Zinda Bhaag , it deals with a social issue . The underlying theme of this film is swara , a custom practiced in Pakistan ’s northern areas , where a girl child is given away in marriage to settle a blood feud between families or tribes . " Salman Junejo reviewed the film for his '' The Express Tribune '' blog , " Rarely do movies of such calibre come along that transcend generations and provoke our greater thought process , not because of impressive visuals , A-list actors , extravagant set pieces and locales but because of its strong story-driven narrative – narrative that is deeply entrenched into the harsh realities of life , as opposed to a work of fiction . " J Hurtado said that the film " finds peace and passion in the plight of the downtrodden in this remote part of the world . To reward that passion with attention and acknowledgement is the least we can do . Highly recommended . " On 18 September the Pakistani Academy Selection committee selected '' Dukhtar '' for the Oscar consideration at 87th Academy Awards in the category Best Foreign Language Film . Nominees will be chosen on 8 January 2015 , and the final list will be announced on 15 January . On being chosen as Pakistan 's entry for the Academy Awards , director Nathaniel said , '' Dukhtar '' was screened at the 11th South Asian International Film Festival ( SAIFF ) on 22 November , won two awards at the festival , '' Best Director '' and '' Audience Award for Best Feature ''
87th Academy Awards
87th Academy Awards
Dukhtar