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PARADISE
Production Country (s) Bangladesh / Germany Production Company (s) Goopy Bagha Productions Limited
Razor Film Produktion
Genre Drama Production Spec 4K / Color / 90min
Production Stage
(or Project Status)
Late script development, Early financing Expected Date of Completion Early 2021
Total Budget
(Negative Cost)
750,000 USD Confirmed Financing 150,000 USD
(Equity Investor)
Fellow Name Arifur RAHMAN
Director Bijon Email of Director bijon.imtiaz@gmail.com
Profile of the Director Bijon’s written and directed debut feature film Kingdom of Clay Subjects world premiered at 42nd Seattle International Film Festival and also won the Best film award at Chicago South Asian Film Festival. The film was released theatrically with critical acclaim. He has received numerous awards for his filmmaking including Motion Picture Association of America Awards, Edie and Lew Wasserman Film Production fellowship, Dorothy Arzner Memorial Awards, and The Nancy Richardson Fund. Bijon is the first Bangladeshi Film Production/Directing MFA-graduate from the prestigious Film, Television, and Theatre Department of University of California, Los Angeles.
Producer (s) Arifur RAHMAN
Roman PAUL
Email of Producer (s) arifur.rahmann@gmail.com
arif@goopybagha.com
rpaul@razor-film.de
Profile of the Producer (s) Arifur Rahman: Arifur Rahman is an independent filmmaker from Bangladesh. He studied anthropology and started his filmmaking journey from his early university life. His projects have been featured in Berlin IFF, Venice IFF, Seattle IFF, IFF Rotterdam, Locarno IFF, Singapore IFF, Cinequest FF, Sheffield Doc Fest, and Shanghai IFF. He established an international storytelling platform Goopy Bagha Productions Limited along with his filmmaking partner Bijon.

Roman Paul: Roman Paul founded Razor Film with Gerhard Meixner in 2002. The company produces high-quality feature films from the arthouse and crossover sector for the national and international cinema market. Razor productions have won two Golden Globes so far, twice been nominated for an Oscar and celebrated premieres and prizes at the big A festivals.
Logline On an isolated island off the coast of Bangladesh, 16 year-old Galib is about to finish memorizing the Qur’an to ensure Paradise for his recently departed mother. But he falls into a huge dilemma when he has to choose one, between love and his duty.
Synopsis On an isolated Island in Bangladesh, GALIB (16), a Muslim boy, studies in a Madrasa, memorising the Qur’an, hoping that his achievement will ensure paradise for his departed mother. VOJON (16) is the only Hindu boy on the island, who works on a fishing boat in the ocean with his father. Their friendship begins when on one stormy afternoon Vojon saves Galib from drowning in rip current. Galib, Vojon, and BHULU, a golden puppy, become a family to escape the reality of their lives.

But later Galib scorns Vojon, believing he is hindering him from reaching his goal. Heartbroken, Vojon gets into a fight with Galib and his other schoolmates. Galib’s schoolmates take revenge by killing little puppy Bhulu without Galib’s knowledge. This tragedy leaves Galib with a strong sense of guilt and this brings the two back together. They escape their island, eventually being caught by the army and returned. The village outcast Vojon’s family.

When Galib and Vojon secretly meet right before Galib’s final examination to recite the entire Qur’an, their clandestine relationship is finally revealed. An angry mob tries to burn down Vojon’s house. When the news reaches Galib in the middle of his recital, he stops his exam and heads for Vojon. Galib runs towards the other side of the island to find Vojon beaten to a pulp. Vojon can barely stand, but Galib is able to get him onto a boat. Together they flee the home they knew braving a storm. They lie together in the sunshine, as Galib recites prayers, and the boat slowly drifts further from the island they left behind.