University of Utah alumnus Mustafa Bin Javed’s “Land of Roots” is a documentary short that examines identity, immigration and the struggles of being a minority across the globe. The film emerges from the aftermath of the 2023 Jaranwala attacks, where violent mobs targeted Christian neighborhoods in the Punjab region of Pakistan. It reflects on the realities of religious minorities in Pakistan and the diaspora.
“Land of Roots” explores the personal and collective struggles of identity through the stories of two individuals. They navigate the complexities of belonging in vastly different cultural landscapes. Javed examines themes of marginalization, ancestral roots and contemporary realities. He approaches these subjects with an empathetic lens, using his own experience as a Pakistani Muslim in the diaspora to reflect on the broader implications of religious and ethnic identity in a globalized world. The film encourages viewers to reconsider their own roots and the influences that shape them into who they are.
The film has a dual gaze, looking both inward and across national borders. Javed, who was once in a majority in Pakistan, asks, “Now that I am a minority, will I face discrimination because I am different?” The film discusses the dissonance between being part of the majority in one place and a minority in another.
This question is complicated further by the film’s attention to Pakistan’s historical and political landscape. The founding of the country, rooted in a promise of religious sanctuary for Muslims, is revisited to show how that ideal has become strained.
International acclaim
“Land of Roots” has been well-received across the globe. The film has screened at a range of different film festivals, including the Stockholm City Film Festival, Life Screenings International Short Film Festival, International Motion Picture Awards and the Muslim Film Festival in Australia during 2024. It was also selected for the Artist Foundry Utah Filmmaker Showcase in 2025, expressing the importance of Javed’s voice in both South Asian and diasporic narratives.
Javed drew from his own experiences, feeling privileged to be in the majority for most of his life and suddenly entering a country where he is not. His film challenges viewers to confront the ways in which systemic discrimination is normalized, whether in the cities of Pakistan or the academic spaces in the United States.
Broader themes
Although only indirectly referenced in the film, the current political climate between India and Pakistan makes the themes of “Land of Roots” increasingly relevant. As global headlines continue to document rising ethno-religious nationalism, both within South Asia and beyond, the film remains relevant within a broader conversation about belonging in an increasingly divided world.
Javed noted that the documentary examines how colonialism deliberately fractured communities along religious lines. The film subtly connects colonialism to the current geopolitical tensions in South Asia, highlighting how deeply rooted prejudices continue to shape modern conflicts. By adding this historical lens to the personal stories of its subjects, the film makes a statement on how legacies of division still affect the contemporary struggle between identity, coexistence and peace.
While the film is not available to be viewed by the public as it is still going through the festival circuit, keep an eye out for it at film festivals.
