KARACHI: Pakistani documentary “As Far As They Can Run,” which made it to the Oscars “Best Documentary” shortlist last month, aims to show “gentle” and “compassionate” side of the country via teenagers with intellectual disabilities, its executive producer said on Tuesday.
“As Far As They Can Run” is a portrait of three teenagers with intellectual disabilities who train to represent Pakistan at the Special Olympics. The documentary was shot in different parts of Pakistan’s southern Sindh province, including Karachi.
Ronak Lakhani, founder of the Special Olympics Pakistan (SOP) non-profit organization and executive producer of the documentary, said the story was clearly “resonating” with global audiences and she was “thrilled” to see the film making it so far.
“I hope it shows the gentle and compassionate side of our country,” Lakhani told Arab News on Tuesday.
“We face unique and complex problems as a nation but what sets us apart is how our people come together to face these challenges with courage and determination.”
The Special Olympics Pakistan (SOP) has one of the largest networks of registered trainers and special-needs athletes across the world, according to Lakhani. It has been transforming lives of people with intellectual disabilities nationwide through participation in sports.
Lakhani met Iranian-American filmmaker Tanaz Eshaghian during her visit to New York, where the two spoke about the work SOP does and it inspired Eshaghian to make a film about it.
Based in New York, Eshaghian visited Pakistan multiple times to film the documentary.
“I thought it would be incredible if this is really the case with these extreme reactions to basically a difficult situation where families don’t know how to handle their disable child anymore because the child is either hitting people or burning things or running away,” Eshaghian told Arab News.
“Sana, the girl in the film, is training regularly and shall Inshallah be a part of Team Pakistan to Special Olympics World Games in Berlin this June,” Lakhani informed.
Ziad Zafar, who produced the film, said “As Far As They Can Run” was for a general audience, but anyone whose life had been touched by a special-needs child would find particular resonance in it.
“We tried to explore many complex themes in the film but the central idea is, the human potential is limitless and that every human being can transform positively if given love and kindness,” he said.
“If anything, I hope this encourages young people to keep persevering, knowing that anything is possible. Also, maybe it will help those in government realize how important it is to support the arts. Or at least not create barriers in its way.”
“As Far As They Can Run” has had very positive receptions at various international film festivals, including America’s largest documentary film festival Doc NYC and the Woodstock film festival where it won “Best Director” and “Best Documentary” awards, respectively.
It has also screened in New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, New Delhi and several other cities across the world. Currently streaming on Paramount+, the documentary film is soon to screen in major cities across Pakistan.
