I’D NEVER DATE AN INDIAN GIRL

A short film that explores the internalisation of racism and microaggressions experienced by South Asian women in Australia.

The story comes from the personal experiences of Catho, raised by immigrant parents in a predominantly white community in Sydney. It is also injected with the experiences of other South and West Asian women in her life who have shared the stories of their own struggles and feelings of never being enough. Our protagonist Saachi, is a representation of all the experiences that made us feel alone. She is a young Indian-Australian girl whose internal monologue that dictates her behaviour, consists of those who have made her feel ashamed of her features. They follow her around as a constant reminder that she must adhere to western beauty standards to be loved and accepted.

Through this film, we hope to give viewers of all backgrounds the opportunity to put themselves in Saachi’s shoes and reflect on their own biases. As well as this we aim to celebrate the work many women and people of colour have put into unraveling internalised otherness to embrace their true beauty. As much as it is a story about empathy and pain, it is also a story of strength and discovering your personality beyond the labels society subscribes you to. We want this film to be a fresh perspective on representation in storytelling.