Agam Darshi is directing and starring in this story of a failed writer taking care of her Sikh father, which hits Netflix on January 21st.
The Ava DuVernay ARRAY Releasing outfit continues to create color filmmakers and women. His latest release, including “Donkeyhead” and “Definition Please,” will premiere Jan. 21 on Netflix in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Exclusively on IndieWire, watch the premiere of the trailer below for “Donkeyhead”, directed and starring Agam Darshi, before its release on streaming.
Following is the official synopsis of the film, which had its world premiere at the TIFF Bell Lightbox and deals with the Punjab Sikh experience in Canada: “‘Donkeyhead’ is a film whose title refers to a term of love used by Punjabi parents to their children. Starring, written and directed by Darcy, the film follows Mona, a failed writer who pursues a life of isolation while caring for her ailing Sikh father. “When she has a debilitating stroke, her three successful siblings show up at her doorstep determined to take control of the situation.”
Anglo-Canadian writer-director and star Darcy recently starred in Oscar-nominated director Deepa Mehta’s “Funny Boy,” which earned her a nomination for the Canadian Second Screen Award for Best Actress.
Along with Darshi, “Donkeyhead” stars Kim Coates (“Sons of Anarchy”), Sandy Sidhu (“Nurses”, “Legends of Tomorrow”), Stephen Lobo (“Arrow”), Huse Madhavji (“Schitt’s Creek” ), Marvin Ismail (“Degrassi: The Next Generation”) and Balinder Johal (“Beeba Boys”).
“Donkeyhead” had its world premiere at the Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto, where it received four awards, including Best Fiction and Best Canadian Film. Darshi may then appear in Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning director Ava DuVernay in the upcoming HBO Max series “DMZ”.
The movie, as Darshi he told Variety, is inspired by Noah Baubach’s family’s talking films and is a family drama based on her own experiences with her father while he was undergoing chemotherapy. “Donkeyhead”, he explained, also deals with South Asian families who are pushing their children to make great careers. “The pressure for a successful career, whether you are a doctor or a writer, whatever you choose, is very high,” he said. “He is, in many ways, keeping up with the Jones. And then, when you add the fact that this is an immigrant family, it is even higher. “
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