The Queen of My Dreams

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. The story centres on Azra (Amrit Kaur), whose father Hassan (Hamza Haq) passes away, leading her to travel to Karachi to reconnect with her complicated relationship with her mother Mariam (Nimra Bucha).

The film flashes back to 1960s Karachi, portraying a booming, progressive utopia where the young Mariam (also played by Kaur) rebelliously pursues a romance with Hassan. 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 “Mere 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-actualisation. It’s an insightful, comedic, and moving examination of South Asian identity.