
Detailingthepreparationofthemulti-cityAuratMarch(Women’sMarch)inPakistan,_ThisStainedDawn_tellsthestoryofafeministmovementassertingitselfinthecountry’surbanspacesthroughtheeyesofthemarch’sorganisers.Justafewweeksbeforethestartofthepandemic,10,000protestersgatheredinKarachi.FilmmakerAnamAbbasfollowstheorganisersofthemarchastheynegotiateadeeplysurveilled,paranoia-inducing,andoftenphysicallyviolentspaceinthehopesofspurringarevolution.Thefilm’sapproachis,suitably,apolyphonicone.Observationalfootageoftheevent’splanningandorchestrationmixeswithanimation,surveillancefootage,andarchive,tracingahistoryofthestatesuppressionofwomen’sresistanceinPakistanandilluminatingtheurgencyoftheunfoldingstruggleoftoday.Whatemergesisaphilosophicalwork,notjustabouttheAuratMarch,butabouttheactofpoliticalorganisingitself.