We have decided to share our documentary ”Finding Ali” with the world for free via our website. The reason for this is because we hope it will help and inspire others. We would love for you to watch it and if you feel inspired to help in anyway you can donate an amount of your choice to a charity that we support called Symbiosis International. (Click for the 2018 annual report)
Symbiosis is a registered Australian charity helping to transform the lives of Bangladesh’s most impoverished people for over 20 years.
When you forgive, you in no way change the past - but you sure do change the future ~ Bernard Meltzer
Please make the reference “Finding Ali” in the section “Leave a message for the organisation” when you donate to Symbiosis International. (Click to learn more about the charity)
FINDING ALI FULL FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
FINDING ALI
CLASSIFICATION: MATURE (M)
RELEASED. AUGUST 19TH, 2018
PRODUCTION. TNM CREATIVE MEDIA / 55 MINUTES
DIRECTOR: JAMIE HENSHALL
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: CONNOR LANGFORD
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: ANTONY LOOMANS
This story documents the search for his estranged Bengali father in a county of 168 million. It touches on the effects of abandonment, single parent families and the struggles they face, together with the consequences of domestic abuse. What will Jamie find if and when he meets his father after 33 years of separation?
Will he get the answers he is looking for?
As a child, Jamie yearned for answers about who he was, his heritage and why his father did the things he did. The truth can hurt and can often be heartbreaking, what if his search takes him to a dead end. Is it worth the risk? This story documents the search for his estranged Bengali father in a county of 168 million. It touches on the effects of abandonment, single parent families and the struggles they face, together with the consequences of domestic abuse. What will Jamie find if and when he meets his father after 33 years of separation?
Will he get the answers he is looking for?
As a child, Jamie yearned for answers about who he was, his heritage and why his father did the things he did. The truth can hurt and can often be heartbreaking, what if his search takes him to a dead end. Is it worth the risk?
He grew up in Manchester UK with his brother Jason raised by their mother, Ann Henshall. The desire to find his father and ask questions became apparent once Jamie found out his wife was expecting their first child.
Jamie's journey in Bangladesh takes him to the villages up the Begangi river, one particular village called silence island. Here they get to witness the layers of the Bangladeshi culture and see how hard people work for survival.
There is still no sign of Jamie's father, Suab Ali.
A large news organisation gets wind of the story from Jamie's AirB&B host Suman Roy. They want to interview him about why he is here and share it with the nation. This eventually results in contact from Jamie's uncle after seeing the news report. It seems there is family living on the outskirts of Dhaka in a village called Khash Goan, 20 miles from Sylhet.
After a 12 hour journey by car we finally see Jamie meet his long-lost aunties and uncle.
Paperwork and documents are shared as proof they are related, with the news that Suab Ali ( Jamie's father ) is now residing in the UK. The search continues as Jamie books a flight to Manchester UK where it all began.