Hamdardi

Buckle up for incoming government-run family separation in the high-stakes dramatic short Hamdardi, co-directed by Stefan Fairlamb and Ashley Tabatabai, who also wrote the screenplay. It is January 27, 2017, and Ethan Reynolds (Ashley Tabatabai) is getting his customs officer uniform for another day of work at the airport. He tells someone on the phone that he is willing to do anything to get his daughter back.

At work, his boss, Hank (Mitchell Mullen), is informed that the current administration has passed a directive banning travelers from countries with high Muslim populations. This will be enforced immediately, with Hank telling Ethan to start pulling people out of customs. Everyone who has arrived on incoming flights cannot meet with their families waiting for them in the airport, as they are no longer allowed in the US.

Caught in the mosh are two children traveling alone from Iran, teen Reza (Arian Nik) and his little sister Parvaneh (Ayla Rose). Their father is sick in the hospital, and they are desperate to join their family at his side. Their lawyer, Carol (Helene Maksoud), argues that the ban cannot be enforced against children, but Hank has his orders. Soon, Ethan has orders, too, ones that make him sick to his stomach.

“…the current administration has passed a directive banning travelers from countries with high Muslim populations.”

Hamdardi exposes all the colors of federal family separation: black and white with the grey removed. The impact of policies that hinge on taking people’s children away is fully felt, similar to falling out of an airplane. Tabatabai’s script increases the feel of the concrete with the deft incorporation of thriller elements into the human drama.

Narrative details are moved like chess pieces to make all the reveals more striking, with the noir elements in total harmony with the dark theme. The injection of suspense grabs the viewer’s attention like manacles around the skull. What truly impressed me was how directors Fairlamb and Tabatabai transformed the atmosphere of their airport setting.

As most of us know, airports can be some of the dullest places on Earth. The filmmakers manage to peel off all boredom with lots of amazing shot angles and editing that highlight the futuristic styling of the location. The level of pulse-pounding achieved rivals the famous airport finale of Argo.

The performances are as high-quality as the presentation. Tabatabai’s acting stance is perfect, as his character has to hide his emotions like a hood on a hawk. When Tabatabai lets his hawk fly free, it is a sight to see. Hamdardi is a laser-bright bookmark in a dark chapter in history. It is a roller coaster of a short that takes the audience on a masterful dark ride.