Talkback
The DINNER WITH THE PRESIDENT filmmakers were granted access to then President Musharraf, discussed his background and vision for the future. They also traveled around the country to find out how citizens felt about the Pakistani government.
Do people in positions of power, actually know what “real people” are thinking? Is this different in a democracy vs. a dictatorship?
Share your response and your reactions to DINNER WITH THE PRESIDENT.
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I was overwhelmed by the farmer and his belief in God. It makes us feel so little. He didnt have anything at all and still offered his dinner to the crew!
Thank you for the great work done so far.
Huge kudos to that fearless film-maker who stood her ground in the face of male contempt. This doc illustrates all that is wrong with US foreign policy in the region. The US gives Pakistan some $300 million every year in aid. And what do we get in return for this investment? Absolutely nothing. Musharref played us like fools....with empty promises that his army will do their best to help catch Bin Laden and stem the tide of a rising Taliban stronghold in the NW provinces. They have staunchly refused to allow the US military into Paki territory to fight the real fight. Why? What do they have to hide? Why are we giving them money? The real threat to global instability is right there in the tribal areas of Pak. Not in Iraq, not in Afghanistan, and not in Iran.
Furthermore, the US needs to stop force-feeding democracy down peoples throats who don't necessarily want it. The planet would be much more civilized if we force-fed education and health care to all its inhabitants. I wish that basic tenant was part of the will of Allah.....
Hello,
I just happened to watch a part of the film, "Dinner with the President" and fell in love with it!!! Can I buy a copy? I would love to see all of it and own it and tell my family and friends about it. I don't think I can ever erase the image of the village family eating their meager dinner and inviting the camera crew to ear with them. He had manners!!! which is something the most educated and rich can often times lack. The man's faith in God astounds me!!! His family of 4 barely had enough food while they sat on the mud floor to eat, and he was talking about contentment and his faith in Allah and how Allah was in control of everyone's destiny. I am sure he is not afflicted with diseases like depression and anxiety and the need to always "have" what you don't need! It was great to see the President so at ease and to catch a glimpse of him at his home and to hear some insightful comments. This film was done beautifully and I congratulate Sabiha and her coworkers. Pakistan and its people are rich in spirit and it was wonderful to see the film capture the wide variety from the modeling agency owner to the business men/shopkeepers in bazars to the poor in the mud hut, all integral parts of the society.
Thanks so much for a job well done!
Sincerely,
Tammana William
Editors note:
Home and educational DVD copies of DINNER WITH THE PRESIDENT are currently unavailable.
hi dear,
Musharraf said clearly, Pakistan have old system from British empire left us with and we are still going toward west look at what you have shown, we are inspire by west so much we are losing our grass roots, culture, values, religion and our country to west! Pakistan celebrating western holidays! Why? Why westerns are not celebrating Pakistani holidays? they are still ruling the minds and system of Pakistan! do the math!
Dear Madam Sabhiha
I was utterly bowled over by your film. It not only gives us a deep insight and understanding about the people of Pakistan but also tells us how President Musharraf thinks and acts! Bravo,my dear. Thanks a lot!!!
Great documentary. Make me better understand Pakistan and the challenge it faces, which were foggy from conventional news media.
I am certain that people in power have knowledge of what "real" people are thinking. Those in power however must operate within restrictions of what is practical but furthermore have to try to cut through the thickness of bias (i.e. bias against the fledgling democracy towards other beliefs), whether it be from the dogma of religion, the power of tradition, the mantra of poverty, or the even the arrogance of the privledged, in order to achieve their goals. Because of these grand obstacles many of the plans of an ambitious leader may fall short, resulting in unjust criticism.
We saw in the film a hearty truck driver who could not believe in a system of democracy (including many tenets inherent in the system: education, equality for women, an independent judiciary, etc) citing a typical class example of "maybe for some, but not for me."
We also sat down to dinner with an aged man of abject poverty, sitting in a dirt filled landscape presumably with his daughter, who gave a blank expression when asked if she knew the name of the President of Pakistan, and grandson, a boy with an innocent face but uncertain future. This man was asked what he would do if he were president of Pakistan. His reply was striking: "I am poor". This was followed by a seemingly memorized, but still touching, line about how God would provide and God would decide what he would become.
We also sit down with a group of tribesman, fervently dogmatic in their version of the Koran. A few of these men, not surprisingly the most outspoken, would leave little room for the idea that the Book is open to interpretation. This close-mindedness leaves even less room for Islam to be reconciled with democracy.
Lastly, we visit a group of middle class students listening to a scratchy hip-hop version of a Frank Sinatra tune. These students seem sarcastic and critical when they pronounce their love for the United States of America while a female mockingly sings "The Star-spangled Banner". The irony stands however in that their ideas of democracy, which they believe in as a positive force, are intricately interwoven with their thoughts about what the United States. The irony also exists in that although they seem critical of the United States they are at a rather typical Western-style beach party, wearing Western clothes, and listening to Western music and readily admit that democracy is good for Pakistan, that Musharraf is good for Pakistan.
From the varied opinions that I saw in this very informative documentary I could only conclude that "democracy" in Pakistan will be difficult to obtain. Musharraf's citation of the democratically elected, but truly radical, Hamas in Palestine was a good example of what "democracy" is not supposed to be. Democracy is rule by the people, however the concept implies that the people are informed about basic justice, freedoms, and liberty for all people, men and women. For now, a democratically elected leader is perhaps not the best answer, more than likely what is needed is a leader willing to bestow the tenets implied in the concept of democracy. In time when these tenets are understood, the majority will surely be less radical.
I find the film blatantly biased, with the filmmaker Sabiha Sumar giving Musharref almost a open forum to make his points, which might sound good, but never realized or enacted. At the same time, she gets into a debate with tribal chiefs on topics she does not agree with. In reality, Musharref is a propped up puppet who's autocratic rule is only embraced by the elites, even after the puppetmaster decided to cut the string to this puppet in order to bring in another puppet. This is the fact that the filmmaker refused to acknowledge, instead she cast him in the light of a puppet that got discarded because he stood up for his people
I have been in this country for 20 years. Turned 11 here. I was born in Pakistan. I have been going back every 3 years or so and keep in touch fairly regularly with the political happenings. As people usually are to the place where they were born I still have a deep love for it. I worry about the family and in general the people living there due to the political turmoil that the country too often finds itself in the midst of. I can say for me this documentary was eye opening.
At first I felt proud that a Pakistani woman was able to create such a wonderful and true reflection of the people of Pakistan. Secondly, it was a revelation for me to see that all the people in Pakistan even the ones living in meager conditions in the tribal areas which some would consider backwards still want the same thing as the rest of us. For me the most powerful moment of the film is when she sits down and talks to the truckers. I won't spoil it but this is a must see. Great work. All the best to Sabiha.
I've seen numerous interviews with Musharref in the past few years...in none does he come across as clear & insightful as in this...with excellent intercutting of discussions with the folk.
The President of Pakistan has been used by and for the USA with-out any considerations for human lives as well as human rights. The same applied for many leaders of several countries, example the Shaw of Iran, The last president of the Phillipines, and the list goes on and on.
All countries invaded politically by the USA has the essence of USA dollars and USA interests until they are no longer needed, and then the USA creates a scenario of conflict amongst themselves to dislodge or destabilise a region, and then the USA walks away with clean hands. The American Dream?
"Dinner with the President" is a very informative film exposing the realities and original opinions of different people belonging to different social classes of Pakistan.
And i think the names of the participants or the characters of this film who are interviewed and contributed in this film,should also have been mentioned here. Thankyou Fahad
