Selected for the Cannes Short Film Corner and Raindance Film Festival, this film follows Sameem Ali, a Manchester Councillor and author of the best selling book of her life entitled ‘Belonging’. The film has since won numerous awards and accolades.
Sameem spent her first six and a half years growing up in a children's home where she was happy and felt loved. When she was told that her family wanted to take her back she couldn't wait to start her new life with them. However, she returned to a dirty house where she was subjected to endless chores and beatings from mother; her unhappiness drove her to self-harm.
Sameem was excited when she boarded a plane with her mother to visit Pakistan for the first time. It was only after they arrived in her family's village that she realised she wasn't there on holiday. Aged just thirteen, Sameem was forced to marry a complete stranger.
Two months later, when pregnant, she was made to return to the UK where she suffered further abuse from her family. After finding true love, Sameem fled the violence at home and escaped to Manchester with her young son. She believed she had put her horrific experiences behind her, but was unprepared for the consequences of violating her family's honour...
"Thanks so much for sending the copy of your truly wonderful documentary: Surviving Burkitts. The way you use a camera is so exciting; you are a true visual artist and in this case, you chose two remarkable woman to be your focus. There were no talking heads in this brief masterpiece".
Pat Silver-Lasky (Mrs. Jesse L. Lasky, Jr) Author, Script Consultant and lecturer. Writers Guild of Great Britain, Writers Guild of America, American Society of Authors & BAFTA
"Honour Me is a powerful and incredibly moving film.
Alex Tweddle's film steers clear of sentimentality and cliche to deliver a revealing story
with tenderness and delicacy"
Claire Wilford, Press and PR Manager
Cambridge International Film Festival