‘I want to make a film on a Kerala family'
Renowned British filmmaker MCaillister talks to MEENAKSHI RAO about his much acclaimed documentary A Syrian Love Story which documents the war with a unique perspective — showing Syria before, during and after the devastating war through the travails of a couple
A Syrian Love Story is a moving and stunning documentary with international acclaim and award nominations. From 2009 to now, what are your views on the implosion in Syria?
The story of Syria is tragic, many of those that rose feel abandoned by the West, millions of refugees displaced around the world and the country now split and still in the hands of the murderer Assad. After so much hope, people can’t comprehend the death toll of over half a million people.
Are you working on any other stories from this region?
No, but I’m working on a new film in my hometown — Hull in the UK. It is the city of culture for 2017 where I was also creative director for the opening event. Currently, I’m working on a feature documentary for BBC and BFI.
What is the latest update on Amer, Raghda and their children?
Amer and Ragda took a divorce and decided to live separately. After which, Ragda left France to be close to Syria on the border in Turkey. Amer is happy being married to a French lady. Recently, Ragda returned to France and live with her children. Her two boys are French citizens. Bob is doing well at school and Kaka is a rapper and model for a casting agency in Paris. However, Ragda still struggles being away from the revolution.
Lead us through the difficulties faced in making this documentary?
Every film has difficulties but this one had more than most. At first, I could not get the film commissioned because no one I knew were Syria was. And, when Syria became news, I couldn’t get the film commissioned because people were sick of hearing about war. In the end, it turned out to be a film that started before the war, went through it and looked at the aftermath, which gives it a unique perspective. The other difficulties were the dangers included while filming, like getting arrested. Yet, we made a successful film and the families are safe.
Are you a changed man after being so close to the war and a love story that it tore apart?
You try to protect yourself but subliminally things get to you. My kids say I’m not the same after Syria. I was also in the revolution in Yemen where I witnessed a horrific massacre. I can’t deny that living in such tense situations has its effects. I reflect on them and think how lucky we are and if only we knew it.
Your other projects in the pipeline?
I am working in the UK on a film about a factory worker whose dream is to leave the job to fulfill his artistic vision. He desires to bring hip-hop music to poor communities in the city and through this music give these kids a chance to enable themselves to do things they otherwise wouldn’t. It’s a personal story of a 40-year-old guy who never made it himself but wants to pass on his knowledge. I can relate to him as I also worked in a factory deadend job when I was 16 and struggled to leave to become a filmmaker.
As a documentary maker, where does the genre of documentaries stand and what more needs to be done to document contemporary history?
Documentary filmmaking is in good shape. The Oscars were filled with politically charged films like 13 and OJ questioning the way we live and do justice or injustice. When I look on Netflix, I see a variety of documentaries replacing films. Some opt for entertainment and others for ‘specialist interest’. These people like documentaries and they are doing well. We need to keep the up momentum and self-belief in making them.
Your views on the state of refugees from war zones.
Refugees from war zones are scattered everywhere, it’s a tiring time for them and we should be welcoming and not respond in an ignorant Trump way. Many of these wars they flee from are as a direct result of our intervention or, in some cases, lack of it. So, it is our global responsibility to help them.
Last but not the least, will you be in India anytime soon?
I love India and have been looking for an excuse to come live there and make a film. The one story that grabs me now is the price families pay to make a simple income by following a family in Kerala whose father works in the UAE for two years at a stretch and lives in a camp. When I was in Dubai, I visited the work camps on the outskirts of the city and wondered how these people survive. I want to give the husband a camera to film his life in the camp and at work away for two years while I will film his family back home in Kerala attempting to understand the price people pay to feed their families and what it’s like to grow up without a dad at home, waiting for his visit home every two years.
I hear Kerala is very beautiful and has some great vegetarian food which is another reason I want make this film. I’d like to perfect my Indian cooking skills but will try avoiding the Delhi belly, if possible.
A Syrian Love Story is a moving and stunning documentary with international acclaim and award nominations. From 2009 to now, what are your views on the implosion in Syria?
The story of Syria is tragic, many of those that rose feel abandoned by the West, millions of refugees displaced around the world and the country now split and still in the hands of the murderer Assad. After so much hope, people can’t comprehend the death toll of over half a million people.
Are you working on any other stories from this region?
No, but I’m working on a new film in my hometown — Hull in the UK. It is the city of culture for 2017 where I was also creative director for the opening event. Currently, I’m working on a feature documentary for BBC and BFI.
What is the latest update on Amer, Raghda and their children?
Amer and Ragda took a divorce and decided to live separately. After which, Ragda left France to be close to Syria on the border in Turkey. Amer is happy being married to a French lady. Recently, Ragda returned to France and live with her children. Her two boys are French citizens. Bob is doing well at school and Kaka is a rapper and model for a casting agency in Paris. However, Ragda still struggles being away from the revolution.
Lead us through the difficulties faced in making this documentary?
Every film has difficulties but this one had more than most. At first, I could not get the film commissioned because no one I knew were Syria was. And, when Syria became news, I couldn’t get the film commissioned because people were sick of hearing about war. In the end, it turned out to be a film that started before the war, went through it and looked at the aftermath, which gives it a unique perspective. The other difficulties were the dangers included while filming, like getting arrested. Yet, we made a successful film and the families are safe.
Are you a changed man after being so close to the war and a love story that it tore apart?
You try to protect yourself but subliminally things get to you. My kids say I’m not the same after Syria. I was also in the revolution in Yemen where I witnessed a horrific massacre. I can’t deny that living in such tense situations has its effects. I reflect on them and think how lucky we are and if only we knew it.
Your other projects in the pipeline?
I am working in the UK on a film about a factory worker whose dream is to leave the job to fulfill his artistic vision. He desires to bring hip-hop music to poor communities in the city and through this music give these kids a chance to enable themselves to do things they otherwise wouldn’t. It’s a personal story of a 40-year-old guy who never made it himself but wants to pass on his knowledge. I can relate to him as I also worked in a factory deadend job when I was 16 and struggled to leave to become a filmmaker.
As a documentary maker, where does the genre of documentaries stand and what more needs to be done to document contemporary history?
Documentary filmmaking is in good shape. The Oscars were filled with politically charged films like 13 and OJ questioning the way we live and do justice or injustice. When I look on Netflix, I see a variety of documentaries replacing films. Some opt for entertainment and others for ‘specialist interest’. These people like documentaries and they are doing well. We need to keep the up momentum and self-belief in making them.
Your views on the state of refugees from war zones.
Refugees from war zones are scattered everywhere, it’s a tiring time for them and we should be welcoming and not respond in an ignorant Trump way. Many of these wars they flee from are as a direct result of our intervention or, in some cases, lack of it. So, it is our global responsibility to help them.
Last but not the least, will you be in India anytime soon?
I love India and have been looking for an excuse to come live there and make a film. The one story that grabs me now is the price families pay to make a simple income by following a family in Kerala whose father works in the UAE for two years at a stretch and lives in a camp. When I was in Dubai, I visited the work camps on the outskirts of the city and wondered how these people survive. I want to give the husband a camera to film his life in the camp and at work away for two years while I will film his family back home in Kerala attempting to understand the price people pay to feed their families and what it’s like to grow up without a dad at home, waiting for his visit home every two years.
I hear Kerala is very beautiful and has some great vegetarian food which is another reason I want make this film. I’d like to perfect my Indian cooking skills but will try avoiding the Delhi belly, if possible.
Comments
Post a Comment