When writing about conflict zones and eruptive “fragile” states, journalists would much rather focus on explosive headlines with images that make them come to life than the burgeoning subculture in such places.

Subculture in unexpected places is a recurring theme on this blog.  After all, This is Worldtown is meant to highlight the underground realities and lived experiences of youth and kids doing and creating things in places tarnished by negative reporting. That means the vision of Worldtown is endless since there are amazing little innovative, creative spurts in countries that are on Travel Advisory lists.

Slackistan is an Independent fictionalized story of the apathetic, beautiful, young and privileged of Islamabad, Pakistan. The same Islamabad known to be a few short kilometres from the dangerous “Taliban territory” and vulnerable to unexpected carbombs. The plight of the young elite traversing from one social engagement to another while discussing their hair and what weekend party to go to sounds like any teen drama on American networks.

So what exactly could be so interesting or “counter-culture” about the trial and tribulations of Pakistan’s privileged set? Well, according to this piece in the Guardian, this is a generation or class that noone’s really paid attention to before. They are the ones that have millions of dollars pumped into being educated abroad, come with promising trust funds, and sit in a life of luxury from the heart of a region in turmoil. Independent filmmaker Hammad Khan decided to chart this territory through looking at the lives of kids of the politicians, professional class, and business men who are intricately tied to deciding the country’s future.  What’s more, the project features a soundtrack from up and coming rock and hip-hop musicians of Pakistani origin. As one of the film’s real-life lead Aisha Akhthar tells the Guardian:

“This is the anti–Slumdog,” proclaims Aisha. “That was a good film but highly overrated. It wasn’t anything new. It didn’t show people a side they didn’t already know. This will be a film people talk about.”

Here’s a trailer of the upcoming feature.  We’re excited to see how buzzworthy it will be, and whether it will sprout a new “Slacker” genre in Pakistani film.