Signature Move

Signature Move is a 2017 film directed by Jennifer Reeder and starring Fawzia Mirza, Shabana Azmi, and Sari Sanchez. The movie follows the life of Zaynab, who is a Pakistani-American lawyer living in Chicago. Zaynab is a young woman who is struggling to come to terms with her identity and her sexuality. She is torn between her mother's expectations of settling down with a man and finding a husband and her own desires of exploring her sexuality and identity.

On one hand, Zaynab is trying to figure out what to do with her life, and on the other, she is struggling with her mother, who is determined to find her a suitable husband. Her mother, Parveen, is an obsessive yet lovable character who is fixated on finding her daughter a Pakistani man to marry.

Zaynab, on the other hand, is secretly exploring her sexuality by attending wrestling classes and participating in a local women's wrestling league. There she meets Alma, a Mexican-American woman who is also struggling to come to terms with her identity as a lesbian. The two women start a romantic relationship while hiding it from their families.

As the story progresses, Zaynab has to deal with her mother's increasing pressure to settle down with a suitable Pakistani man. The situation worsens when Parveen arrives at her daughter's home unannounced and discovers Zaynab's relationship with Alma. The two women must now confront their cultural differences and make difficult decisions about their future together.

The movie provides an intimate portrayal of the Pakistani-American community in Chicago, highlighting the struggles of first and second-generation immigrants as they try to balance their cultural traditions with their American identity. It also tackles the topic of homosexuality and how it is perceived in the conservative Pakistani community.

Signature Move is a poignant and entertaining movie that provides a much-needed representation of the LGBTQ+ community in the Pakistani-American culture. The film is humorous, heartwarming, and thought-provoking, tackling relevant issues that are often ignored in mainstream cinema.

The performances of the lead actors are excellent, particularly Fawzia Mirza, who delivers a convincing portrayal of a young Pakistani-American lawyer trying to balance her cultural identity with her sexuality. Shabana Azmi, a prominent Bollywood actress, also delivers a memorable performance as the overbearing and controlling mother who is struggling to come to terms with her daughter's choices.

Overall, Signature Move is a heartfelt and relevant movie that sheds light on the struggles faced by young Pakistani-Americans in finding their cultural identity and coming to terms with their sexuality. It is a must-watch for anyone who is interested in exploring the diverse experiences of LGBTQ+ people of color.