"The Queen of My Dreams" is a semi-autobiographical film by writer/director Fawzia Mirza about her experiences as a queer Canadian woman of south Asian heritage.
1999, Azra (Amrit Kaur) travels from Toronto to Karachi after her father Hassan's (Hamza Haq) sudden death, forcing her to confront the complicated relationship with her mother Mariam (Nimra Bucha).
On the journey, the film flashes back to 1960s Karachi, portraying a booming, groovy period where the young Mariam (also played by Kaur) rebelliously pursues her own path in life. When a chance meeting with Hassan occurred, it was love at first sight.
In the modern-day storyline, Azra must navigate mourning her idealised late father while trying to understand her equally complex living mother. The film explores the dangers of putting loved ones on pedestals rather than seeing their full humanity. It's a story about intergenerational divides, culture clashes, and the messy reality of mother-daughter relationships.
While paying homage to the classic Bollywood film and song "Meri Sapno Ki Rani" (literally "The Queen of My Dreams"), the movie's heart lies in Mirza's very personal look at her own family dynamics and quest for self-discovery. It's an insightful, comedic, and moving examination of South Asian identity.
