The much-awaited short film Bench is finally available for a wider audience, for it got released on YouTube on Thursday, November 25, after being screened and commended at multiple international film festivals. A major reason why the film had everyone’s curiosity aroused was because Bench happens to be the directorial work of Usman Mukhtar, Pakistan’s current chocolate hero with hits like Anaa, Sabaat and Hum Kahan Ke Sache the to his name.
Starring Usman Mukhtar himself along with Rubya Chaudhry in the leading roles, Bench crosses right through the viewers’ hearts because of its portrayal of a matured couple who understands that it is important to walk out at the right time in a relationship that does not seem to be working.
Still, accepting human emotions and keeping their dignity and simultaneously existing vulnerability intact, the film does not grow unrealistically ideal by showing the characters going about it robotically. The 12-minute-long film, every now and then, doles out intensely emotional scenes which show that separation may be very important for two people who cannot live together anymore, but shoving off their memories of togetherness is not at all easy. Instead, the pain of forcing themselves to let go of good days is a definite by-product of their divorce, which they will have to live with, even after separation. These mixed emotions are well-portrayed by Rubya Chaudhry, whose sudden outbursts amidst her ever-increasing disgust towards the relationship are a beautiful reflection of the difficulty of letting go.
Moreover, the gradual unveiling of the secrets the two had been keeping from each other is a subtle depiction of how it had grown highly important for the two to part, lest more secrets set up a wall between them. That importance is then reflected in two gestures particularly; Usman Mukhtar’s hastiness in signing the divorce deed, and Rubya Chudhry’s smile in the last scene, showing signs of relief and freedom.
On the whole, Bench is an important piece of work that tells how nothing matters more than mental and physical health. When relationships turn toxic and start forcing you towards cigarettes or other forms of relief-intake, then the best thing is to walk out. What is even better is to avoid delving seriously into mere infatuation that has the tendency to turn into a trap, something which the character of Rubya Chaudhry expresses when she says that it would have been much better had the two of them never met and developed a liking for each other.
Bench is a production of Rangeen Studios in collaboration with Bling Studios. In this directorial work of Usman Mukhtar, who has been assisted by Tuba Afzal in its making, two soft and soothing songs also mark their entry, one performed by Natasha Humera Ejaz and Mirande Shah together, and one executed by Natasha alone.
Hasan Naeem happens to be the executive producer of the film while Omer Bari offers his services as the DOP. Adnan Aslam handles the drone operation and Muhammad Ahsan does the job of the Steadicam operator. The sound recording for the film has been provided by Channel Tek whereas Anser Soomro supervises the dialogues and sound designing.
