First-time feature filmmaker Imran Perretta released his debut movie Ish into UK and Irish cinemas, drawing critical comparisons to Ken Loach’s Kes and Satyajit Ray’s Apu trilogy, according to reviews tracked by the director. The film, co-written with playwright Enda Walsh and starring first-time actors Farhan Hasnat and Yahya Kitana, explores the childhood of a 12-year-old boy named Ishmail in Luton against a backdrop of post-9/11 Islamophobia and grief.
From Galleries to Cinemas: The Making of Ish
Perretta transitioned to filmmaking after Rose Garnett, then head of BBC Film, viewed his 2019 video installation The Destructors at a London gallery, according to the artist. Prior to his film career, Perretta studied architecture for three years before switching to art and spent a week designing toilet cubicles for a high-profile architectural firm before quitting. During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, when the Turner prize was cancelled, he received a £10,000 bursary as one of 10 selected artists. His video installation The Destructors, focusing on the lives of young Muslim men, was recently exhibited at Tate Britain in London, alongside a concurrent exhibition of his work in Poland.
Autobiographical Roots and the Impact of Stop and Search
The narrative of Ish draws directly from Perretta’s personal experience of being stopped and searched by police at age 13 in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, an event he describes as deeply traumatic and politically formative. According to the filmmaker, the incident marked the exact moment he lost his childhood innocence and realized he was viewed as a deviant or threat outside his family and school. To capture this loss of protection on screen, the production examines systemic issues, with Perretta drawing parallels to recent controversies surrounding Child Q and interviews conducted under the government’s anti-extremism Prevent strategy without parental or teacher presence.
Did you know? The two lead actors in Ish—Farhan Hasnat and Yahya Kitana—had been friends since they were toddlers, a pre-existing bond that director Imran Perretta utilized by stepping back and allowing them to naturally interact on set during the five-week shoot in Luton.
Filming in Luton: Monochrome Choices and Production Challenges
Shot over five weeks in the summer of 2024 in Luton, the film deliberately utilizes luminous monochrome cinematography rather than color. According to Perretta, black-and-white filming avoided negatively aesthetizing the commuter town, instead giving the concrete environment a marble-like grandeur and bypassing the visual markers of austerity present in color footage. Production schedules were strictly governed by child actor regulations limiting work days to six-hour limits, requiring an unflappable approach from the director, who noted that managing his mother’s terminal cancer put the everyday stress of a film set into perspective.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed the film Ish?
The film was directed by Imran Perretta, marking his debut feature film.
Who wrote the script for Ish?
The film was co-written by Imran Perretta and Irish playwright Enda Walsh.
Where was Ish filmed?
The movie was filmed on location in Luton over a five-week period in the summer of 2024.
What is the film’s visual style?
Ish is shot in luminous monochrome black-and-white.
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