Footprints on water, UK 2023, R.: Nathalia Syam mit Adil Hussain, Nimisha Sajayan, Lena Kumar, 108 Min. OV (Engl.) anschl. Q&A mit Regisseurin Nathalia Syam & Adil Hussain

Away from the glitz and glam of Birmingham resides an illegal immigrant community who are always in hiding, leaving no proof of their existence, not even their footprints. Raghu, an illegal immigrant in Birmingham - UK, believes that he has finally struck gold as his daughter, Meera, is all set to marry a wealthy groom, a legal resident in the UK.

Raghu was a small-scale business owner in India who fled to the UK with his wife and daughter after being mired in a financial scam. The life that awaited them in the UK was far from perfect – they were dumped into shared accommodation, they did not have legit visas, and they were all expected to work for a meagre wage. Raghu regrets this move, but he is left with no choice but to stay on in the UK, make enough money to pay off his debts, and return home with dignity.

Six years on, Raghu now works for a fraudulent solicitor who mints money making fake passports and visa appeals. Raghu is his trusted employee, and his boss has paid back his loyalty by finding the perfect groom for Meera. Following a heated argument with Raghu, Meera storms out of the home and never returns.

Raghu worries, knowing Meera's habit of making hasty extreme decisions in the spur of the moment. Raghu sets on a mission to find her all by himself without coming under the police radar. Raghu's search for Meera unveils a different side of her life that he never knew existed. Raghu realises that in his race behind the materialistic riches, he has lost everything and everyone that mattered to him the most. Now, the only priority in his life is to see his daughter safe. But is he too late?

Trailer:

Director's bio:

Nathalia is a London based debutant feature film director of Footprints On Water. She won the Best Debut award at NewYork Indian Film festival & best award on direction, celebrating stories theme at UKAFF. Between the British and Indian film industries, she has experience working as an associate director/ 1st AD and has broadcast credits for her previous short-films and commercials. Nathalia is also a Film Practitioner at a Film School in London. As a director-writer duo, their previous short film, Lehenga, was nominated for the 'Best of British' award at the BAFTA qualifying 'Iris Prize' Award in Cardiff.