The World Unseen
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Shamim Sarif
Screenplay by	Shamim Sarif
Based on	The World Unseen by Shamim Sarif
Produced by	Hanan Kattan
Starring	Lisa Ray Sheetal Sheth
Cinematography	Michael Downie
Edited by	David Martin
Music by	Richard Blackford
Distributed by	Enlightenment Productions Regent Releasing
Release date	9 September 2007 (2007-09-09) (Toronto International Film Festival)
Running time	94 minutes
Countries	South Africa United Kingdom
Language	English

The World Unseen is a 2007 historical drama film, written and directed by Shamim Sarif, adapted from her own novel. The film is set in 1950s Cape Town, South Africa during the beginning of apartheid. The film stars Lisa Ray and Sheetal Sheth as two Indian South African women who fall in love in a racist, sexist, and homophobic society.

Ray and Sheth also star together in another Shamim Sarif movie, I Can't Think Straight, released in November 2008.

The World Unseen was made with the assistance of the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa, which took a minority equity stake in the film.

Synopsis

In 1950s South Africa, a land torn apart by apartheid, Amina epitomizes individuality and freedom. She runs the Location Café, a haven of fun, food, and festivities open to all. Amina defines her own laws and lives on her own terms, undeterred by the reproving police and the disparaging Indian community.

Miriam demurely follows conventions and makes no demands on life. Her world is confined to being a doting mother to her three children and a subservient wife to her chauvinistic husband Omar.

Amina has a covert business partner, Jacob, who is barred from owning a business because the State considers him to be 'coloured'. He is attracted to Madeleine, a local white postmistress, but the indignities and injustices of the prevalent law thwart their desire to pursue a relationship.

Omar's sister Rehmat married a white man, against rules that forbid mixed marriages. When she needs protection from police, Amina shelters her, and her charm and strength of character captivate Miriam, who secretly rejoices when Amina accepts a farming job in her backyard. Amina notices Miriam's inherent kindness and silent dedication, and the mutual attraction between them grows. They bare their hearts to each other and their emotions get entangled. They contrive another reason to meet: driving lessons.

The inescapable social distance between them makes them question their feelings, but, in the midst of hatred and oppression, their only refuge is love.

In the resplendent South African landscape, with retro music strewn in the background, The World Unseen explores Miriam's relationship with Amina and how it empowers her to make personal choices that change her world.

Cast

• Lisa Ray as Miriam, a wife and mother who has recently immigrated to South Africa.
• Sheetal Sheth as Amina, a free spirited café owner.
• Parvin Dabas as Omar, Miriam's chauvinistic and frustrated husband and one of the film's primary antagonists.
• David Dennis as Jacob, Amina's business partner.
• Grethe Fox as Madeleine Smith, Jacob's White love interest who runs the local post office.
• Colin Moss as De Witt, a policeman and one of the film's primary antagonists.
• Nandana Sen as Rehmat
• Natalie Becker as Farah, Omar's lover
• Rajesh Gopie as Sadru
• Bernard White as Mr. Harjan
• Avantika Akerkar as Mrs. Harjan
• Amber Rose Revah as Begum
• Leonie Casanova as Doris, a waitress at Amina's café shop

Reception

Critics

The film was positively reviewed by the gay and lesbian media, with AfterEllen calling it "one of the best-conceived queer films of the past year – a sincere, beautifully realized vision of love and resistance in an intolerant world."^[1] On Rotten Tomatoes the film has a 30% rotten rating from 27 reviews, with an average score of 4.5/10.^[2]

Awards and honours