(For Immediate Release – Tuesday, November 2, 2004) Toronto, Ontario - On THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25th, 2004 at 10:00 p.m. VISIONTV will air the world premiere of MEET THE SUMDEES, a point-of-view documentary that chronicles the coming together of two cultures as a set of WASP Canadian parents become the in-laws to a modern Islamic woman, her parents and, by extension, their entire family in Pakistan. MEET THE SUMDEES airs as part of VisionTV's 360 Vision Presents documentary series, which explores issues of faith and spirituality in the contemporary world.
In September 2000 a white Canadian man named Aaron married a Pakistani-Canadian woman named Saira. Before the wedding could take place, Aaron, the great grandson of a Protestant Minister, embraced Islam and became a Muslim. Six months after the wedding, the newlyweds and both sets of parents, (including film makers and film subjects Judy Holm and Michael McNamara) traveled to Pakistan to meet dozens of Saira’s relatives across the country - from Karachi to Multan to Rawalpindi and Islamabad, to the Himalayas and beyond. Sumdee is an Urdu word meaning ‘in-law’. Raised as Christians but living a secular life, neither Judy or Michael had ever traveled in the east or spent time with Muslims. Now, they were not just visiting, they were a part of the culture. Would they be accepted? And could they accept this new chapter in their lives and new direction in the lives of their son and their future grandchildren?
“We have been both challenged and thrilled by our experiences as we have come to know our new relatives,” says filmmaker and film subject Judy Holm. “We wanted to share these experiences with people who may be facing similar cultural merges.”
Says Alberta Nokes, VisionTV's Director of Independent Production and the commissioning editor for the documentary, "MEET THE SUMDEES is a delightful film that speaks precisely to what VisionTV is all about: the bridging of faiths and cultures. We're proud to be giving this production its world television premiere."
MEET THE SUMDEES is a globe spanning adventure that follows the discoveries, tensions, confusions and joys of two cultures meeting and joining together, for better or for worse, ‘til death (or Delhi Belly) do us part’.
Markham Street Films Inc. is a production company based in Toronto, Canada, specializing in documentary and feature films. Formed in 2002 by partners Judy Holm and Michael McNamara, Markham Street Films has produced such distinct documentaries as the Gemini Award winning RADIO REVOLUTION: The Rise & Fall of The Big 8 (History Television), the Gemini nominated WRINKLE (CBC), HEARING VOICES: The Lives and Times of Rich Little (CBC), GENUINE ARTICLE: The First Trial (The Documentary Channel), FLATLY STACKED (TVO & The Doc Channel) and MEET THE SUMDEES (Vision TV). Markham Street Films is currently producing a number of new television documentaries including PENIS DEMENTIA: The Search For the Perfect Penis (Discovery Health & SBS Australia), 100 FILMS & A FUNERAL (The Documentary Channel) and the 6 part series SHRINES & HOMEMADE HOLY PLACES (Vision TV).
www.markhamstreetfilms.com
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Markham Street Films Inc. Tel. 416-536-1390 info@markhamstreet.com
