Indian actor/host/model and now first-time filmmaker Teeshay Shah has crafted a poignant, thoughtful short film with Hiraeth, a film centered around a war refugee, Hasan (Ahmed Shihab-Eldin), whose seemingly ordinary conversation with Ali (Shah himself) reveals the internal and external complexities of the refugee experience and the struggle with a homesickness that really transcends homesickness. Despite feeling lucky to have escaped the challenges within his home country of Iraq, Hasan brings vividly to life that unquenchable thirst one has to return to that place which is really "home" yet the constant knowing that such a return is likely never possible. 

Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, an Emmy Award-nominated journalist and correspondent for Vice on HBO, gives a powerful, intuitive performance as Hasan and Shah proves to be the perfect companion for this enlightening cinematic journey. 

While the film's original score is occasionally a touch intrusive, Hiraeth is an authentic, eloquent film that will resonate with those who can understand or appreciate the experience and it should be well received in its L.A. debut during the Golden Gate Film Festival on March 23rd, 2019 at the TCL Chinese Theatre. 

A familiar presence in Bollywood, Teeshay Shah has crafted a fine first film and it's definitely an indication that the young man has much to say and the ability to tell quite the story on the big screen. Here's hoping he continues to get chances to do so in the future. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic