EXCLUSIVE: Here’s an exclusive clip from Wendy Bednarz’s upcoming feature debut Yellow Bus, which is world premiering in the Toronto Film Festival’s Discovery program this weekend.
Based on true events, the film follows an Indian family living in the Arabian Gulf facing unspeakable tragedy after their youngest daughter is left to die on a school bus in the sweltering desert heat. Consumed by grief, the girl’s mother Anada (Tannishtha Chatterjee) sets out to search for the truth surrounding her daughter’s death and find who should be held accountable. As accusations unfurl, Anada demands each suspect to confront their darkest secrets and own their part in the senseless tragedy.
Bednarz, who writes and directs, describes the film as a “heartfelt story of a mother’s journey to grieve the loss of her child and to forgive those responsible, including herself.”
She added: “As a working-class Indian expat, Anada Ishwar is not just any mother – she must fight to make her voice heard.”
Chatterjee, who is known for starring in Sarah Gavron’s 2007 British title Brick Lane, is joined by Kinda Alloush, Amit Sial, Aarushi Laud and Kshethra Mithun.
The UAE-Jordan-Indian-U.S. co-production is produced by Screen Project, Metatron Productions, OSN, Creative Venture, Sikhya Enterainment and Ta Films. Nadia Eliewat produces while Guneet Monga Kapoor is co-producer.
Shivani Pandya Malhotra, who is managing director of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival, is executive producer on the project.
Yellow Bus debuts at TIFF on Sunday, September 10, 2023. Check out the clip above.
