Overview
A mesmerizing tale of fishermen that intertwines reality with the fantastical.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- eerie
- mythic
- oppressive
- thoughtful film night
- folklore themed viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the cinematography, color grading, direction, acting, dialogue, music, and cultural relevance, while some found the thriller mechanics and select character writing less effective.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The fishermen's life is intertwined with Bangladeshi folk mythology and miraculous events, while the film gives those traditions political and social relevance.
The fishing boat isolates Chan Majhi and his crew, making interpersonal tensions and mysterious developments increasingly volatile.
Gulti's role among the fishermen highlights the plight of women within a male-dominated social order and supports the film's political critique of patriarchy.
Miracles and mystery surround the fishermen's experiences, preserving uncertainty between folk tale, fantasy, and lived reality.
Films like Hawa, and why
The Lighthouse
shares maritime isolation, folkloric mystery, masculine group dynamics, and atmospheric visual storytelling
The Fishermen's Diary
combines fishermen, mythic storytelling, social allegory, and a dreamlike relationship with nature
Tumbbad
uses folk mythology, female agency, and supernatural ambiguity to critique patriarchal social structures
The Wailing
shares a heightened rural folklore atmosphere, symbolic mystery, and tension between community and the uncanny
Movie Details
- Director
- Mejbaur Rahman Sumon
- Release Date
- 2022-07-29
- Runtime
- 130 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (19)
Cast
- Chanchal Chowdhury
- Nazifa Tushi
- Sariful Razz
- Nasir Uddin Khan
- Sumon Anowar
- Shohel Mondol
- Rizvi Rizu Chowdhury
- Bablu Bose
- Mahmud Alam
- Mrinal Dutta
Common questions
- What is Hawa about?
- A mesmerizing Bengali maritime mystery turns a fishermen’s voyage into a mythic reckoning with power, patriarchy, and the uncanny.
- What is Hawa like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Hawa as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Hawa violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Hawa as mild.
- What did critics think of Hawa?
- Critics broadly praised the cinematography, color grading, direction, acting, dialogue, music, and cultural relevance, while some found the thriller mechanics and select character writing less effective.
- Which films are like Hawa?
- Films with a similar feel include The Lighthouse, The Fishermen's Diary, Tumbbad, and The Wailing.
- How long is Hawa?
- Hawa runs 130 minutes.
