Jordanian short film ‘Why’ in competition at the Hungarian Disability Film Festival | Salaam Gateway
Posted on November 21, 2021 via The Jordan Times – The award-winning Jordanian short “Why”, written and directed by Mohammad Rahahleh, took part in the seventh Hungarian Disability Film Festival in Budapest, according to a statement from the Royal Film Commission Jordan (RFC).
The five-minute short features a street sweeper in his mid-twenties, played by Jordanian theater actor Murad Abu Saraya.
The sweeper faces an unfortunate obstacle in his job, unexpectedly receiving help from the main character, a disabled person played by Mahmoud Zoubi, Rahahleh told the Jordan Times.
“The main purpose of the film is to show the power to give and to present people with disabilities as sources of power with a lot to offer,” said Rahahleh.
The film also sheds light on various social issues, using the word “why” to ask questions such as: Why is there unemployment? Why is there sexual harassment? Why do people throw rubbish on the streets? He added.
“The presence of a person with a disability as the main protagonist and the use of a single sequence scene increases the authenticity of the events,” said Rahahleh.
Zoubi, who is a first-time actor, said the one-shot scene was not easy; especially since it involved a lot of walking because the shooting was repeated nine times in one day.
“I am always up for a challenge that gives me the chance to overcome my disability,” he added, noting that it was an “honor” to represent people with disabilities and to show that they too have something. something to offer to their community.
‘Why’, which was filmed in Salt in 2019, premiered in 2020 and has since appeared at 10 international film festivals. It won the award for best foreign short film at the ninth Long Beach International Film Festival in New York and the award for best sound at the 32nd Voir on International Film Festival in France, according to Rahahleh.
“The film was developed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Arab Aid Organization for Lebanon and produced by Rana Dabbas with support from the Royal Film Commission Jordan and Fig and Olive Films”, he noted.
The music was composed by Baha Othman, a Jordanian producer and composer, who was part of the sound department of “The Hurt Locker”, which won the Oscar for best sound, said Rahahleh.
“The entire film crew was made up of Jordanian volunteers who believed in his idea and his message,” he added.
The RFC will screen the film as part of the “Jordanian Film Caravan” in the governorates of Jordan and the “School Film Screenings” project, and in RFC film centers, according to Rahahleh.
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