The Life of Skin
The Life of Skin depicts the processing of animal skins in the traditional tanneries of Kasur, one of Pakistan’s oldest and most renowned centers for leather production. It shows the transformation of raw hides into finished leather, capturing the various intricate stages of the process. From the initial soaking and liming to dehairing, tanning, and finishing, each step is performed with remarkable precision, highlighting centuries-old techniques still practiced today. The skill and dedication of the laborers, whose artistry and hard work sustain this age-old industry despite modern challenges, persist amid the hardships of poverty and deteriorating health.
An Ordinary Morning
This short film offers an intimate glimpse into the daily rhythms of laborers at a brick kiln on a summer morning in Pakistan’s South Punjab. This short ethnographic film follows their demanding routine: preparing and shaping the soil, molding it into bricks, and then loading the freshly made bricks onto donkey carts for transport to the kiln. Beyond documenting their hard work, the video depicts the relationship between humans and donkeys, once vital partners in this trade but now increasingly rare. As mechanized rickshaws and ox-carts replace donkeys, the film captures the quiet fading of these animals, partly due to their export to China for the production of ejiao, a traditional Chinese medicine made from donkey skin.
Artisanal Elegance
The skilled artisans of Kehror Pacca create intricate block-printed designs on plain bedsheets with practiced precision. Once celebrated throughout the Punjab for its distinctive charm, this artisanal craft now struggles to survive amid poverty and fierce competition from mass-produced factory-printed fabrics. Yet these handmade bedsheets continue to hold a special place in the hearts of those who appreciate their unique patterned elegance and cultural significance.
Mastering Steel
Thousands of workers at a very young age travel to Rawalpindi and other megacities from South Punjab in search of meager incomes. This short ethnographic film follows their physically demanding work of bending and cutting steel and iron rods. Through the presence of loader rickshaws in the background, the film also reveals the changing urban landscape, where these machines have replaced the once-ubiquitous donkey carts at hardware stores.
Pigeon Keeping in South Punjab
Pigeon Keeping in South Punjab offers a glimpse into the unique rural tradition of keeping pigeons in rural Pakistan. Many villagers keep hundreds of pigeons in specialized lofts, caring for them with remarkable dedication. Specifically, this video explores the local concept of shauq (enthusiasm or passion) that drives this practice, revealing how pigeon keeping creates a sense of identity, pride, and social connection among enthusiasts. Famous local proverbs such as “shauq da koi mul nahi” (passion is priceless) highlight the depth of people’s attachment to these birds.