Fawzia Mirza’s winning directorial debut, The Queen of My Dreams, is a movie about a very specific experience: being Pakistani-Canadian and queer in the late 90s. If, however, reading this line makes you feel there’s nothing for you in the film if you aren’t all of those things, you are dead wrong. In fact, The Queen of My Dreams is the kind of movie that proves there’s universality in the specifics of everyone’s experience, as long as the story is well told.
Azra (Amrit Kaur) is not a relatable character because we understand exactly what she’s living through—though she will surely be a delightful proof that life can and does have a place for you for those who do—she’s a relatable character because she’s so well constructed. Just as the story of Azra and her mother feels so familiar to so many people, particularly BIPOC, because it’s one we see over and over again in our communities.
If anything, movies like The Queen of My Dreams are about showing the cycles of familial relationships, and how sometimes we end up becoming our mothers, even without meaning to. Sounds like a depressing idea, but in the end, the movie handles both the inevitability and the possibility of becoming a new and improved version of the person who raised us in a way that leaves you thinking of what mistakes you don’t want to repeat.
That is, perhaps, the movie’s biggest strength. It makes you think about yourself, about your relationships, and about what you want them to be. Are we repeating the same patterns of behavior? How can we be better? Who are we, deep down? Sometimes there aren’t answers, but asking the question is crucial to move forward. Movies aren’t responsible for changing the world, much less convincing people that there are more important things than doing what is expected of you. But if they do, well… that’s certainly a good thing.
Visually, the clear Bollywood influence gives the movie a very unique vibe, one that keeps you glued to the screen for the entirety of the film. That, plus two narrative lines that are very easy to follow, make The Queen of My Dreams the kind of watch that doesn’t weigh heavily. This doesn’t feel like homework; it feels like something you set out to enjoy—even if, no matter who you are, there’s something that hits deep about the main conflict.
But there’s lightness, too. At times, this feels like a coming-of-age comedy, and a good one too. Mirza’s balance on the tone helps you feel wonder as a younger Azra discovers new things, grief as she loses her father, and even relate to the connection between Azra and Mariam, despite knowing what comes later. This isn’t a story about why Mariam can’t accept her queer, modern daughter; it’s a story about how she got there when she herself was a rebel at one point, and what, if anything, can be done about it.
Overall, The Queen of My Dreams is a story about mothers and daughters, but also about the things we do to fit in and how to make our own decisions, in life and in relationships. It’s not a perfect movie, and at times it feels like the second half of the movie goes in circles a little bit, but it’s still not just a worthwhile watch, but one that will enchant you if you give it a chance.
The Queen of my Dreams is now available to rent or buy on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play Movies, and YouTube, among others.
