We are Faheem and Karun

We are Faheem and Karun, 💖 dir. Onir, written by Fawzia Mirza & Onir, 2024, India, 75 min., in Kashmiri, Hindi, Urdu, English, and Malayalam, with full open captions for the hearing impaired
Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 6:00 pm, Vogue Theatre
🌎 North American premiere

We are Faheem and Karun

Karun is from Kochi, Kerala, a coastal city near the southern tip of India, but he has been stationed at a border outpost in Gurez, in the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir, along the deeply contested border between India and Pakistan — a conflict with the potential to ignite World War III, now that both India and Pakistan (and China, which also claims a bit along its border) have nuclear weapons. He is in an unfamiliar land, high in the cold mountains instead of on the tropical coastline, with an unfamiliar language and culture.

Faheem is a local who occasionally needs to cross the line of control, bringing him to the border outpost. When Karun stops him for inspection, Faheem flirtatiously offers him an apple. Faheem is restrained by his religion and culture, Karun by his position in the Indian military, so they must be discreet in their interactions. Things simmer along from there, building to a full-fledged romance, but the sound of gunfire in the distance portends trouble. Can Faheem and Karun shake free of the constraints that keep them from openly declaring their love, or will generations of strife drive a wedge they cannot evade?

It’s a profoundly human tale, told with warmth and depth, superbly portrayed by the main actors. Indeed, my only regret about screening this early is that I won’t be at the in-person screening, where director Onir and actor Akash Menon (Karun) are expected to attend. Incidentally, the script was co-written by Onir and Fawzia Mirza, whose 💖 Queen of My Dreams was a huge hit at Frameline48, and who also co-wrote the short 👏 Poreless, in this year’s “Fun in Shorts” program.

Definitely a must see, with very cute lead actors as just an added bonus.

• IMDb • trailer • official website •