'I died with him' - film follows mother's knife-crime grief

"I died with him on the 30th of September 2023" says Tatiana Qureshi, after watching a film about her son who lost his life to knife crime.

Temur Qureshi, 19, died after he was attacked in Slough in Berkshire.

After his best friend had been stabbed to death the previous year, Temur had written an open letter in which he described knife crime as "a pandemic".

That letter was featured in a documentary film - A Letter From Temur - premiered at The Curve in Slough, charting Tatiana's grief and exploring the issue of knife crime.

Young adults, grieving parents of knife crime victims and other members of the community were among the audience watching the first screening - many were visibly moved by what they saw.

The film was made as part of a project by the National Film and Television School.

Miri de Villers who made the documentary said: "The intention of the film was to tell Temur's story but really it was really about Tatiana and her grief.

"When we started making the film, I don't know if she was ready but she felt like she needed to do something with her pain.

"So we see Temur through old videos and through the way Tatiana talks about him and [her] love for him".

The film features the open letter that Temur, a father of one, was prompted to write after the death of his friend Abdul Aziz Ansari.

It read: "There's no love, no humanity when it comes to the streets. I should have thought twice before I did the things I had done".

"Sometimes it takes a difficult experience to make you realise what is really important in life.

"I made some changes to my life ... I'm lucky I realised this before otherwise it would be been too late for me".

Watching her son in old videos and photos was undoubtedly emotional for Tatiana.

The screening took place days after what would have been Temur's 22nd birthday.

"[On] his birthday I had to go and celebrate on [his] graveyard. It is hard"

"Temur was my best friend. I miss his kiss every night on my forehead, [saying] 'Mama, goodnight I love you'. I miss that so much," she said.

Leena, 17, was one of the young people who attended the screening.

"I came in thinking I wouldn't be too affected. I didn't think I would be that moved, but I was moved to tears".

She admitted that it made her think about herself and her peers.

"I thought 'Oh my God, we are the same age that could have been me' - someone could have been in that same situation."

Tatiana is planning to take the film to schools and into the community to get young people to think about the consquences of knife crime.

According to Thames Valley Police figures, there were 2,336 knife-enabled crimes reported in the Thames Valley in the 12 months from May 2025 - compared to 2,578 during the previous 12 month period.

Thames Valley Police says it uses "a broad range of tactics to fight knife crime and bring offenders to justice".

The Home Office has said it is aiming to half knife crime within a decade.

The end of Temur's letter reads "my hopes for the future is to live a happy life to see my daughter grow up and be there for her all the way.

"I have a few pieces of advice for you. Never make the same mistake twice and listen to your parents, they know best – Temur."