mental health

“The film of my life”: In conversation with Sink’s Zain Duraie, Clara Khoury, and Mohammed Nizar

Antler River Media’s Emmanuel Akanbi sat down with the director of Sink (2025), Zain Duraie, and the two leading actors Clara Khoury and Mohammad Nizar for an interview. It takes a lot of heart, insight, and a delicate touch to bring together a film such as Sink, but speaking with director Zain Duraie and leads Clara Khoury and Mohammad Nizar — who played a mother (Nadia) and son (Basil) struggling hand in hand through the heavy fog of mental illness — it was clear the cast and crew, forged into family through the film, had these qualities in spades.  Fitting…

Read More“The film of my life”: In conversation with Sink’s Zain Duraie, Clara Khoury, and Mohammed Nizar

Zain Duraie’s Sink is as honest as it is heartbreaking

Zain Duraie’s Sink is the right amount of devastating. One of my favourites of the festival, the film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last week. There is no shortage of films that cover mental illness in the modern context. Predominantly American or European, there are dozens if not hundreds of projects that show the sadness, the stigma, and the need for community support when dealing with mental health issues. Still, few films expertly portray an earnest perspective of the emotions involved outside of the melodrama frequently depicted. To truly succeed in portraying mental illness requires…

Read MoreZain Duraie’s Sink is as honest as it is heartbreaking