DIRECTOR: Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury STARRING: Nasir Uddin Khan, A K M Itmam, Angel Noor, Priyam Archi RUNNING TIME: 1 hr 31 minutes LANGUAGE: Bengali
Moju, an elderly man living in a fishing village in Bangladesh, devotes himself to physical training. Boli, a traditional sport in Bangladesh, is a type of wrestling, and Moju declares war on Dofor, the Boli champion who lives in the village. The villagers laugh at Moju, saying he is crazy, and Moju's son, Shafu, tries to lock him up and prevent him from competing, but there is no way to avoid a match between Moju and Dofor.
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The Wrestler is the debut feature film for director Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury. The film had its worldwide debut at the Busan International Film Festival in October 2023. The Wrestler won best film in the New Currents section. It has since played at the Shanghai Film Festival.
A seven-member Oscar Bangladesh Committee, chaired by director Matin Rahman, was formed to oversee the nomination process. After inviting submissions, the committee unanimously chose The Wrestler on October 1st as Bangladesh's official entry for the 97th Oscars, following careful deliberation. Robin Shams, the coordinator of the Oscar Bangladesh Committee, confirmed the news.
The film, which was funded by the Bangladeshi government during the fiscal year 2020-2021, is produced by Piplu R Khan, with Saiful Azim and Gousul Alam Shaon serving as co-producers.
The Wrestler is a drama and it was filmed in a small village on the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh.
To check out all previous submissions for Bangladesh, click HERE.
The Wrestler, Iqbal H. Chowdhury’s debut feature, is a mesmerizing exploration of coastal life and traditional wrestling in Bangladesh, offering viewers a unique blend of physical combat, mysticism, and the raw beauty of a remote village. Set against the backdrop of the Bay of Bengal, the film dives into the world of Boli khela, a slow-paced but intense form of wrestling that reflects Chowdhury's contemplative storytelling style. This is not a typical sports drama, but rather an evocative meditation on aging, ambition, and the otherworldly presence of nature. The result is a film that feels both deeply grounded in regional authenticity and rich with esoteric mystery.
At the heart of the film is Moju, played with quiet dignity by Nasir Uddin Khan, an aging fisherman determined to challenge the local wrestling champion Dofor. Moju’s solitary training sessions, set against the endless expanse of beach and sea, offer a stark contrast to Dofor’s more structured regimen with his eager students. As the community doubts Moju’s ability to win, the film slowly builds tension, not through typical action-packed sequences, but through the growing sense that something deeper is at play. The wrestling match serves as a centerpiece for the film, but the real drama lies in its aftermath, when the consequences ripple through the characters and their village in unexpected ways.
Chowdhury’s depiction of this isolated coastal environment is one of the film’s great strengths. From the crashing waves to the flickering lights of the village, every element feels infused with an eerie beauty. The film’s earthy color palette, natural lighting, and use of day-for-night cinematography create a dreamlike atmosphere that complements the mystical undertones of the story. The sea, in particular, becomes almost a character in its own right, embodying both the life-giving and destructive forces that shape the community’s existence. This connection to nature is further amplified by the atmospheric sound design, which heightens the film's tension and sense of unease.
One of the most compelling aspects of The Wrestler is its ability to weave local culture and folklore into the narrative. Through traditional folk performances and the ever-present belief in supernatural forces, Chowdhury grounds the film in the rhythms and beliefs of the village. While the story may seem simple on the surface, it is laced with symbolism like fish, turtles, and the ocean itself all carry deeper meanings that invite interpretation. The film’s transition from gritty realism to phantasmagoria is seamless, offering a tantalizing mix of the real and the surreal. This gradual shift enhances the film's emotional depth and elevates its central themes of mortality and resilience.
The Wrestler is a bold and captivating debut, showcasing Chowdhury’s talent for blending cultural specificity with universal themes. While it may not follow the typical structure of a sports film, it offers something far more profound: a meditation on the human spirit, the inevitability of aging, and the enduring power of nature. Its slow pace and cryptic narrative may not be for everyone, but those willing to embrace its enigmatic style will find a richly rewarding cinematic experience. With its beautiful cinematography, atmospheric sound, and deeply rooted sense of place, The Wrestler establishes Chowdhury as a filmmaker to watch.