![\"Asmara](\"http:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Asmara-Gabrielle-and-Danny-Ashok-in-Finding-Fatimah.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nFinding Fatimah attempts to inject normality into its characters immediately, where we witness in the opening scene, an almost 30 year old Shahid stating in a wishful yet honest online dating video, that all he wants is a companion to share his joys and downfalls with. What he conceals on his video from his potential female love-interests, however, is his divorcee status! Coupled with a failing business and lack of self-esteem, it\u2019s impossible not to feel empathetic.<\/p>\n
Shahid\u2019s display of vulnerability and depiction of raw emotions is a refreshing change to the typical alpha South Asian male portrayal, reflected in the scenes between Danny Ashok and his character\u2019s mother, played brilliantly by Nina Wadia, as he allows her to comfort him in his moments of despair. As he finds an outlet via comedy in an attempt to become a stand-up act to express his daily divorcee dilemmas, it\u2019s his humour that eventually becomes his self-therapy.\u00a0 Asmara Gabrielle\u2019s role as Fatimah cleverly illustrates that her secure, strong, and independent stature doesn\u2019t force her to suppress her fears of whether she will ever meet \u201cThe One\u201d. Yet it\u2019s her strong composure that helps Shahid to build his self-confidence, complimenting each other as the yin to his yang! But is his secret status about to change that?<\/p>\n The narrative is light-hearted in its tone, and whilst the main characters are from Muslim backgrounds, the film shows how easy it is for an individual\u2019s insecurities to be shielded behind the internet which is universally applicable. Breaking stereotypes is a pattern followed through by many of the characters, including that of Shahid\u2019s mother, who refuses to let her widow status define her by dating a much younger man in the form of actor Jason Kavan; always a welcoming appearance!<\/p>\n<\/a>Across the other side of the internet screen there\u2019s Fatimah, a confident and successful doctor who has also joined Cupid\u2019s digital queue after failing to come across a suitor. Whilst she may not be short of admirers and prospects introduced (and caste-approved of course) by her parents, it is Shahid who is drawn to her wit and sincerity as he marks his interest in her profile and she coyly reciprocates. As Fatimah eventually confides in Shahid on her anger management issue, especially towards liars, the audience are drawn into how the layers behind these digital personas start to unravel.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n