The World Unseen

Completed2007South Africa, United Kingdom93 min

In apartheid-era South Africa, Amina runs a cafe with Jacob, defying the racial and social divisions that structure everyday life around them.…Read more +Read less −

In apartheid-era South Africa, Amina runs a cafe with Jacob, defying the racial and social divisions that structure everyday life around them. Miriam's world is smaller, shaped by her husband's authority and the duties of family and work. Meeting Amina gives her a glimpse of another way to live, and their growing attraction makes the limits of her own circumstances harder to ignore. As police scrutiny and community expectations tighten around the cafe, private choices carry public consequences. Shamim Sarif's period drama places the women's connection within overlapping systems of control, following their efforts to make room for desire and independence.

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Drama Romance

Sapphic characters & cast

Lisa Ray

as Miriam

Main sapphic character

Apple TV performer publicity portrait; reuse rights pending review

Sheetal Sheth

as Amina Harjan

Main sapphic character

Apple TV performer publicity portrait; reuse rights pending review

YOUR FIRST LOOK

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BEHIND THE SCENES

Details & credits

Country: South Africa, United Kingdom
Language: English
Premiere: 2009-04-09
Runtime: 93 minutes
Director: Shamim Sarif

Apple TV / credited film distributor publicity

Artwork source & permission status

Editorial review approved — rights not independently confirmed

Apple TV / credited film distributor publicity

Original publication ↗

Sources & editorial notes (5)

Last researched 2026-11-03. Editorially approved.

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