Rubaiyat Hossain’s ‘The Difficult Bride’ wins praise at Toronto Film Festival

Rubaiyat Hossain’s latest film “The Difficult Bride” has received positive responses at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it is representing Bangladesh in the Centrepiece section.

The film was screened at TIFF Lightbox on Wednesday (September 16) afternoon, drawing audiences from different countries. Following the screening, viewers discussed the film’s themes of women’s freedom, beauty standards and social expectations.

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The psychological horror drama had its second screening on Thursday (September 17)  night, with another screening scheduled for today (September 19) at Scotiabank Theatre.

American viewer John, who watched the film at TIFF, described it as a horror film that also explores deeper emotional conflicts. He praised the way the film uses supernatural elements to represent inner fears and personal struggles rather than relying only on traditional horror tropes.

Canadian viewer J said the film’s strongest aspect was its portrayal of a woman’s journey towards freedom. She described the central character as being trapped in a “golden cage” and praised the final sequence, where the character breaks away from social restrictions.

Another Canadian viewer, Maya, appreciated the film’s modern portrayal of women, while Suzanne Smith praised its exploration of beauty standards, social class differences in Bangladesh and the pressures surrounding women’s appearances.

Canadian-based filmmaker Mehedi highlighted the film’s message about accepting one’s body and appearance. He said the film’s discussion of feminism and self-acceptance was one of its most important elements.

This marks Rubaiyat Hossain’s return to TIFF after seven years. Her 2019 film “Made in Bangladesh” was screened at the festival’s Contemporary World Cinema section. This year, “The Difficult Bride” arrived at TIFF after making history as the first Bangladeshi feature film selected for the Orizzonti section of the Venice International Film Festival.

Speaking about the Toronto screenings, Rubaiyat said all three shows of the film were sold out and that the audience response had been encouraging.

“Hundreds of films are shown here. It is almost like a conference or convention. The audience waits for this festival throughout the year,” she said.

Addressing questions about the film’s use of creatures such as snails, earthworms, snakes and lizards, Rubaiyat said they were not meant as direct symbols but were included to create a physical and emotional reaction among viewers.

“My intention was that after watching the film, viewers would feel something in their own bodies,” she said.

Following TIFF, the film is scheduled to travel to the BFI London Film Festival and the Chicago International Film Festival.

Set in contemporary Dhaka, “The Difficult Bride” explores beauty, marriage, femininity and social control through a mix of psychological horror, supernatural elements and South Asian folklore.

The film stars newcomer Zaineen Chowdhury Karim in the lead role, alongside Azmeri Haque Badhan, Reekita Nondine Shimu, Sunerah Binte Kamal, Shatabdi Wadud, Saberi Alam, and Mohammed Bari.