There's a proverb among the Indian immigrant community that says there are three unreliable things when moving to a new country: your work, the weather and your wife.
That adage is the basis for Canadian-Punjabi filmmaker Harpreet Sandhu in his 2014 film Work Weather Wife, a Punjabi and English film that deals with themes of infidelity, identity and honour killings.
The film was recently shortlisted for the 87th Academy Awards under the Best Original Song category. The two songs that earned the movie its nomination are "Moon" and "Long Braid," both of which were composed by Sandhu.
The director is also vying for a nomination for the Canadian Screen Award.
"It's very funny to me because they have millions and millions of dollars and they can create any set," Sandhu said of sharing a spot on the shortlist with big-budget Hollywood flicks.
"They can create a $1-million set today and they can destroy it. I can't do that. It's very exciting and it's very hopeful for independent filmmakers."
The film, the screenplay for which Sandhu wrote in 2009, follows an Indian couple that moves to Canada in anticipation of more independence, money and freedom.
The wife, Dimple (played by Canadian-Hindi actress Reema Nagra), is wooed by con-artist Vick (played by Sandhu himself), and finds herself in an extramarital affair. What happens as a result is highly contentious subject matter for the community, according to the director.
"The film raises a very important issue of honour killings through infidelity and the ignorance of the male counterpart; how and why these things happen and what's the significance of the honour and culture behind it," he said.
"The lead character of the film, he defies all the cultural influence that drives people to honour killing and he uses a judgement to make a decision that's pertinent to his child's future and how, instead of doing the killing, how he accepts that life is made of mistakes and right and wrong decisions."
Sandhu, who wrote, directed, starred in and composed music for the film, has been living in Surrey for over 10 years, but only took up filmmaking around 2006. His previous careers include working as a police officer in Alberta, a computer technician and as a professional athlete.
His switch to film wasn't just a career move of passion, it was a conscientious one, he said.
"I wanted to make something meaningful and I am committed to meaningful cinema," Sandhu said.
"I want to make films that are good for our children. Filmmaking is a bigger canvas if you want to influence the masses. Almost everyone likes watching films and, you know, they have a huge impact on life. I believe that if the right films are made with the right mind, they can totally influence the masses and direct our kids in the right direction."
Work Weather Wife, Sandhu's first fulllength feature, was released in November of last year, and was shown in cinemas at Surrey's Strawberry Hill and Guildford theatres, and also in Mission, Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton.
Sandhu's hope is that his film will stand out among the commercial flicks he's up against at the Oscars, but the subject matter - rather than its budget - will carry the weight.
"This is a very artistic film, but it's commercial at the same time. There wasn't a whole lot of money spent on it... but this film is a Canadian film... it's more relevant to people living in Canada to Canadians, and how things happen to the immigrant families who come here," he said.
kalexandra@thenownewspaper.com