Dalj Brar never imagined he would be in the film industry, let alone releasing his second feature film to a global audience. But the former Kitimat, B.C., resident, now based in Vancouver, has done just that with Dil Rakh: Gloves of Kin, an action drama that recently debuted on Amazon Prime.
The English-language film tells the story of Sukh Sidhu, a man released from prison after 20 years who struggles to reconnect with his son, Dayton. As they attempt to rebuild their relationship, they face hostility from a corrupt sheriff, figures from Sukh’s past and the same deep-seated discrimination that has lingered in their town for decades.
Brar, who lived in Kitimat from 1976 to 1993, said the story is deeply personal, shaped by his own experiences growing up in a small community. “Growing up in a small town, there weren’t many kids that looked like me. The word ‘minority’ was stamped upon me, setting me apart. Back then, it meant little, yet in hindsight, this label became a beacon, attracting prejudice and misconceptions,” he said.
While Dil Rakh is set in a fictional U.S. town, Brar said the themes in the film—particularly the father-son relationship and the community dynamics—were inspired by his memories of Kitimat. “People from Kitimat will be able to relate to everything in the movie,” he said. “You won’t recognize locations, of course, but you will recognize the feeling of the movie. That’s where I got all the inspiration from.”
The film originally featured a hockey storyline, a reflection of Brar’s childhood passion, but he reworked it with a boxing theme to ensure broader global appeal. Despite the change, the film remains rooted in personal experience. “Although I escaped bullying, I witnessed its impact on those less fortunate, etching a vivid image of minority adolescence in my memory,” he said.
Brar is clear that Dil Rakh is not about solving racism but about portraying how it persists across generations. “Through Dil Rakh, I aspire to unmask the perpetuation of discriminatory ideologies from one generation to another, seeping into impressionable minds with no counterbalance,” he said. “Racism persists, evolving with time, victories and defeats etched into its history. While Dil Rakh promises entertainment, it bears a weightier purpose—urging its viewers to embrace a tapestry of cultures, ushering a potential end to this relentless war.”
The film was shot in smaller municipalities in the Lower Mainland and is entirely Canadian-made and funded, featuring an all-Canadian cast and crew. Brar, a Leo Award-nominated actor, wrote, directed and produced the film, which won Best BC Film at the Sundar Prize Film Festival. It was released in the U.S. in November and became available in Canada in late January.
Brar, who has returned to Kitimat several times over the years to reconnect with friends, said the community remains an important part of his identity. “What matters is that you watch the movie and see that people like me, people with dark skin, are just normal people going through the same shit as everyone else.”
