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5 ways Verna could have been a better film

5 ways Verna could have been a better film

Avoiding gender divides and lazy plot points could've led to a better outcome
Updated 23 Nov, 2017

Shoaib Mansoor's Verna released last weekend and it hasn't exactly enjoyed glowing reviews.

Critics seem to agree that the film was overburdened with themes and wasn't able to meaningfully explore the crux of its story: all the ways Pakistani society lets down a rape survivor (Mahira Khan as Sara) and how she surmounted the odds to achieve 'justice' for herself.

Still, there's no doubting that it was a well-intentioned project. Here are some ways Verna could have been better:

Warning: Spoiler alert!

1) Verna shouldn't have created a gender divide in its characters' reactions to rape

What happens: Women like Sara are the sole bearers of the progressive messages in Verna and they push the story forward. Tasking the women alone with imparting the film’s message not only places an unfair burden on the few female protagonists, it also lumps all men under one label: bad.

In Verna no man stands up for Sara, not her father, not her husband, certainly not the authorities. The film's moral compass is provided wholly and solely by women, who lecture men on how to become better; for example, Sara's lawyer lectures Sara's husband Aami (Haroon Shahid) about how he has failed Sara.

In another instance, Sara tells Aami that it’s men who are the reason for her pain and anguish.

But is this the right way to impart a universal message? No.

What should have happened: While women are the true champions of women’s rights and empowerment, men can play a huge role in changing mindsets because of the influence and power they hold in society.

Verna could have quite easily shown even one male character supporting Sara or even pushing her agenda forward, however, that never happens, all the men are shunned and shamed for the actions of a few.

We can't help but feel that this is a missed opportunity. A strong, progressive male character could have served as a much-needed example or hero for male viewers, someone they could aspire to emulate.

Instead, by showing all men as weak or evil, Verna ends up demonising (and possibly alienating) an entire gender.

2) The unfair burden on Sara (Mahira Khan) should've been shared with another character

What happens: Sara, having been through the horrific ordeal, is surprisingly her own support and the strength of her family.

She receives no comfort from her loved ones and is constantly fighting her battles while also trying to break her family's regressive views.

Her character is overburdened with being the voice of reason. She single-handedly moves the plot forward; from planning her revenge to every strategy that she must take in order to seek justice.

With so much responsibility lumped on one character, isn't it evident that the film will seem implausible?

What should have happened: To responsibly address the trauma of rape, Sara should have had a support system that she reached out to, or just an individual she could rely on for her emotional and mental sanity.

The fact is, looking at Sara's place in society, her education and her background, we felt it was implausible that not even one person — be it a female friend, a boss, a colleague or extended family — stepped in to provide Sara moral support.

Sara's sister-in-law could have been the support Sara needed, but her character was underwritten and underplayed immensely and she was lost in the background.

Another character who had the potential to be Sara's brace was her lawyer, but yet again her character failed to rise to the occasion due to wooden acting and terrible dialogues. Instead of giving Sara advice, she was on the receiving end of Sara's plans.

Again, we felt this was a major opportunity to show a roadmap for how women (and men) organise and provide support to each other after sexual violence.

In showing Sara to be an island, Verna set up expectations that every woman is just as kickass as Sara, placing an unfair burden of recovery solely on the victim.

3) Aami shouldn't have had polio

What happens: Verna shows how Sara is deprived of her husband's support after she is raped because he is too wrapped up in his own misery at being mocked as a coward and suffering the horror of having another man lay hands on his wife.

He is out-and-out selfish and lacks moral strength, but these weaknesses of him are partly explained away by him being a polio-stricken man. Within the film's first few scenes, the film establishes that Aami is plagued by insecurity due to his disease...

What should have happened: But we ask: can't a physically healthy man also be insecure? A man's insecurity can exist for reasons other than an ailment, and the film stops short of painting Aami as a truly reprehensible man.

The film also does a disservice to polio-stricken people because it makes use of their illness as a sign of weakness. On certain occasions, Aami is told in all seriousness that he's an incomplete man or that he's weak.

If the film went on to show that Aami surmounted the odds to achieve an act of great strength, then it would have done justice to a polio-stricken man's portrayal. But that breakthrough never occurs.

It's okay for a man to remain weak or never redeem himself but if it comes at the cost of a just portrayal of a certain subsection of society, then that's a problem.

4) Shoaib Mansoor should've portrayed the legal process more accurately

What happens: The film is riddled with unrealistic depictions of court proceedings. For instance, in a key scene in the film, evidence brought by the defendant is not reviewed by the presiding judge, simply because the plaintiff's father pleaded him not to. Is it really so simple to discard evidence in court?

What should have happened: In Verna, it’s obvious that Shoaib Mansoor wanted to educate his audience. He plugs into his script facts like the 72-hour time frame for medical examination of rape victims, or the need to preserve rape evidence by not showering or discarding clothing.

So it follows that the film should accurately portray how a rape case can play out in a Pakistani court. The film presents a series of highly dramatised court scenes that only cursorily touch on a rape survivor’s hurdles to justice, like tampered evidence or attempts to slander, when it should have more comprehensively unpacked the legal loopholes that allow a rapist to get away in Pakistan.

Verna’s shallow attempt to do this makes light of both rape survivors’ ordeal and their lawyers’ efforts in court.

5) Verna shouldn't have promoted vigilante justice

What happens: When the justice system fails her, Sara takes the law into her own hands. Initially, it backfires. Then, Sara devises an even more far-fetched plot to exact revenge against her rapist. It works.

What should have happened: When writing a revenge drama, screenwriters get to exploit their viewers' willing suspension of disbelief. By the end of such films, viewers may experience a sense of catharsis after a traumatic watch, but they're not likely to interpret the film's events as a lesson in how to avenge a wrong.

So it would have been quite okay for Shoaib Mansoor's Verna to roll out as a fantastical series of events, in which lead character Sara answers the legal system's failings with a spot of vigilante justice. We’re down for some dark, gritty drama.

However, in packing his film with didactic messages, Shoaib Mansoor doesn’t allow Verna to justifiably pan out this way.

If Mansoor seeks to educate his audience in some parts of his film, this introduces the risk of the audience interpreting its more fantastical elements such as Sara's plot for revenge as a real means of recourse.

So in the film, when Sara's initial plan backfires, we felt that that’s a good thing because it sends a very important message about how dangerous it is to resort to extrajudicial measures to get justice for oneself. But then Sara succeeds in another more ambitious plan, it works and the film comes to a happy close.

This is irresponsible, at best, and dangerous, at worst, because vigilante justice is a means of recourse that can not be reasonably endorsed.

Comments

Charu Nov 23, 2017 12:56pm
I saw MOM, here in Delhi, one of the most engrossing films on the subject. I am hoping Verna too is like that. The good thing is at least this issue is being highlighted
Recommend (0)
Anjum Nov 23, 2017 12:59pm
Beautifully written and analyzed. With the revival of Pakistani cinema its high time Pakistani film makers show the film at "test screening" in order to analyse its shortcomings and to opt for possible amendments.Nevertheless Verna will still hold the status of a torchbearer film in Pakistani cinema and it still has the potential to inspire more directors to work on meaningful and bold themes.
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Adeel Anwer Nov 23, 2017 01:05pm
Shoaib Mansoor, stop being a Male version of Shermin Obaid Chinoy. All your movies are so pessimistic. Agreed that there are evils in society, not just in pakistan but everywhere else also. Your previous movies were so sadistic, i was hoping for a change this time, but it looks like that u cant do that.
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SHOMAN Nov 23, 2017 01:21pm
Excellent Review! 100 % Agreed! Kudos!
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Aamer Nov 23, 2017 01:48pm
No matter what Verna was a good Effort and was a brilliant movie in every way.
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Naxalite Nov 23, 2017 02:45pm
Author should go and make a better movie himself
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Alanore Nov 23, 2017 02:47pm
@Adeel Anwer You have no clue, you are just being negative. Shoaib Mansoor has his own style of making movies. We need some one to highlight serious issues like rape, poverty and terrorism and Shoaib Mansoor did that in his movies and has been succesful. If you want fun movies you can watch Na Maloom Afrad 2 and Punjab Nahi Jao Gi or you can wait for Chupan Chupai and Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2.
Recommend (0)
john Nov 23, 2017 02:56pm
Flop, waste of time, no idea what was he thinking, waste of money too!!
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Zain Nov 23, 2017 02:58pm
I disagree with all above, Verna is one of the best movies the moral of the whole theme was respect your women and remove the veil from this sick mens dominant culture. The director did a excellent job .
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Pinkfloyd Nov 23, 2017 03:00pm
6) actors could've acted better. Mayra khan is a one track pony her only expression is screaming. The male lead was as bland as a potatoe, Kirsten Stewart has more emotion/expression than him. The subject was important, the execution dismal. If you wanted vigilante justice, why not let the father in law just hire men to shoot the guy. The script was very weak. Overall 3/10, an evening wasted.
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NAK Nov 23, 2017 03:35pm
Looks like the reviewer wanted to see this movie as an instruction manual for rape victims and not as fiction, although I have not seen the movie ... yet
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ahmad Nov 23, 2017 03:53pm
No, none of the above mentioned things could have made up for it's biggest short coming. 'Structure' , a simple 3 act structure is what shooman needs to construct his movies with.
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ALI Nov 23, 2017 05:17pm
This movie should be nominated for OSCARS. I am very impressed with the movie and emotional too though yet to watch this movie
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Chooran Nov 23, 2017 08:05pm
Verna is an amateurish movie, didn't expect this from Shoaib Mansoor.
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Saira Nov 23, 2017 08:43pm
@Charu Verna is of a different caliber, like all the other movies Mansoor sahib has made.
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N abidi Nov 23, 2017 09:18pm
Critics are people who have not done anything! Shoaib monsor do your thing. Let see your perfect movie and your amazing acting! What I saw in Verna an great actress,who is putting herself out there, who had an option to do glamorous roles and just look pretty! Thus , the actress Mahira khan. The writer and directer, who put an difficult topic, to start a conversation,so how about listing 5 ways ,the pak girls and boys protect them selves, and have system that works for them! Verna is a thought provoking movie!
Recommend (0)
fayza Nov 23, 2017 10:00pm
I totally agree... The idea or the thought behind the movie might be good but its execution, screenplay, narrative etc is all bland. Its simply a poorly made film. you can't ask the world to notice or like your cinema on the basis of a good idea or thought shown in a film, it has to have all the necessary ingredients to qualify it as good cinema.
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FJ Nov 24, 2017 12:35am
I'm sorry, but this review disgusts me. The bitter truth about our society is that most people, men and women, do not stand up for rape victims especially when the rapist comes from a rich, powerful and a feudal family. In reality, if a woman is raped by an extremely powerful man, she and her family are threatened by the rapist and if anyone dares to speak up against them, they get killed. So people choose to stay quiet. There is also so much stigma attached to the issue that if the woman does speak up and her family does support her, somehow or the other, the woman is made to look as if she is the guilty one.
Recommend (0)
FJ Nov 24, 2017 12:49am
I do not understand the criticism this film is receiving from the critics. No one is saying that all men are evil and are not supportive of their female family members but this is a fictitious story. A story about a girl who gets raped by a powerful man and does not get the social support from her family. The unfortunate reality is that most men do not come out in support of women's causes. How many men came out and protested when Mukhtara Mai got raped? How many men publicly shamed the rapists and protested for justice? I remember many people at that time were calling it a publicity stunt and a way to defame Pakistan. How many men come out in support of acid victims? How many men actually care about the rights of women that are not associated to them. Women are harassed on the streets, in the markets, in the work places and in universities. Not all men are evil but most are guilty as they do not speak up and stand up for women's rights.
Recommend (0)
Shakeel Tahi Nov 24, 2017 06:48am
Theme of movie was moralististic.Acting of Mahria Khan perfect.uptill interval movie had a climax Therafter interval writter was confused how to end the movie.Suicide of her father was not justified.Then to be buried in the house was not realistic.Abducting the rapist so easily was like mulajet screen play.Stopping the car of governor so easily not possible.lawyer so weak in arguments.precisely end was like Punjabi films.wheras Bol movie was much better with strong screen play.
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Marium Ahmed Nov 24, 2017 09:42am
Watched Verna, and it is a true depiction of facts what happens with girls and how status conscious and male dominated society reacts on such scenes. Mahira has done an excellent job but Haroon Shahid needs real acting classes and the Negative character has been played very very nicely. On the whole VERNA is a good one time watch movie, while Khuda k Lia and BOL are in a different league (thats ture SHOMAN)
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ALI Nov 24, 2017 10:05am
Mahira Khan an overrated actor.
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Nasim Khursheed Nov 24, 2017 12:38pm
A biased and negative review. The movie has excellent acting, realistic story, of course, with some loopholes. Though the last 30 minutes of the movie were unnecessary, unrealistic and not well-conceived or acted.. If the movie had ended with Sara's father's death, it would have left greater impact. Realism doesn't need happy ending.
Recommend (0)
Nasser Nov 24, 2017 03:13pm
@Adeel Anwer Face reality, man!!!!
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Nasser Nov 24, 2017 03:23pm
Verna was one most excellent movie. Hollywood, let alone Bollywood, would struggle to make movies like this. It was a bold movie and reflected the true colours of our society which is largely horrible, based on rampant injustice by the powerful against the less powerful, at EVERY level. As a product of this society, I too feel uncomfortable but facing facts is the FIRST step towards improving ourselves. I only agree with one of the 5 points, that Aami should not have had polio, but for a different reason. An average man in our society does not need a physical disability for not lending his support to the real victim, his raped wife. He would have reacted in the same way regardless, as he is morally disabled, and there is no worse disability.
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tariq Nov 24, 2017 06:54pm
excellent movie. MUST WATCH
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Momina Nov 25, 2017 01:05am
Very good movie verna marvellous
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isha Nov 25, 2017 04:12am
how easy it is to write what should have been in the movie when you have see what already is there. its a good original effort
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isha Nov 25, 2017 04:13am
@Adeel Anwer so showing you people the mirror is sadistic ??
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Shumaila Nov 25, 2017 10:31am
@Adeel Anwer agreed
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zakhta Nov 28, 2017 10:23am
@Alanore right, but watching Verna felt like it an extended version of a Public Service Message, with no good script, acting, story build-up, or even the crux of the movie.
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