After three months of legal struggle, the way has been cleared for the release of the film Ghost School. The Sindh High Court has allowed the film to be released without any cuts. The film will be screened in cinemas across Punjab and Sindh on October 30.
The film Ghost School, which focuses on educational issues in Sindh, closed schools and girls’ education, faced legal obstacles before its release. According to director Seemab Gul, the Sindh Censor Board had demanded that certain scenes be cut from the film, following which she approached the court.
The court’s permission has now cleared the way for the film to be screened without any cuts.
The Secret Behind a 10-Year-Old Girl and a Closed School
The story revolves around a 10-year-old girl named Rabia, who tries to discover the reason behind the sudden closure of the only school in her village.
Rumours have spread throughout the village that the school is haunted, but Rabia sets out to uncover the truth hidden behind these rumours. Through her journey, the film highlights non-functional schools in Sindh and the challenges facing girls’ education.
Director Seemab Gul expressed happiness over receiving permission to release the film, saying that she had always wanted the people of Sindh to watch the story because it relates to their own society and its problems.
Why Did the Filmmaker Refuse Payment?
The film’s cinematographer, Zamarin Wahdat, is a German filmmaker born in Afghanistan. In an interview, she had said that after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, the threats facing girls’ education and women’s rights made the subject personally important to her.
Because of this commitment, Zamarin Wahdat did not accept any payment for her work as the cinematographer of Ghost School.
International Screenings, Legal Struggle for Release in Pakistan
Interestingly, the film, which faced legal difficulties regarding its release in Pakistan, has already been screened at the Berlin International Film Festival this year. In addition, the film has also been shown in at least 11 cinemas in Germany.
According to the director, Ghost School will be released in Punjab and Sindh on October 30. Audiences will now be able to watch a story that is not only about a girl’s quest but also draws attention to important social issues, including access to education and closed schools.
