Setting Sun Film Festival (Best Cultural Diversity Film) - Bittersweet
Aisha and her friends are planning a slumber party before they all start different High Schools. Her mother, however, has other plans – forcing Aisha to stay with her Grandmother for a week before she leaves for Somalia indefinitely.
Interview with Writer/Director Ayan Yusuf
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you! This film was made with my younger cousins in mind. They’re reaching an age where they’re becoming conscious of their relationship with their culture, mother-tongue, and identity as Somali-Australians. I wanted them to watch a film starring someone that looks like them and is of a similar age, who is also struggling with their culture and identity.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Bittersweet takes audience members unfamiliar with Somali culture into a world where a young Somali-Australian girl is reintroduced to her culture, through the art of making Somali tea. – all while connecting with her grandmother. Although an unfamiliar world, the audience will also find many aspects of this film that they can relate to.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
A universal experience is intergenerational relationships. In this film it revolves around the difficulty that comes from communicating with a family member from a different generation and having a language barrier only enhances this difficulty. The role of elders in our lives is also a vital theme in this film as many cultures value elders as having the role of guiding and passing down cultural knowledge. There are other themes at play throughout the film that audiences will hopefully draw personal experience from.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The initial idea was for the story to take form as a documentary, showcasing how language, identity, and culture are interlinked. As the writing process developed, it was clear that a narrative would be more fitting as it was more readily digestible by a broad scope of age groups and it also gave me more time to play with other aspects within the story.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We’ve screened the film locally a few times now and have received a great response from audiences. People from various backgrounds have been recounting that they too had a similar experience as Aisha, the main character who has trouble making tea - traditional coffee and traditional dishes were revealed as the main culprits. Some people have also shared what they took away from the film, which is one of my favourite parts of being a filmmaker. It’s always interesting to hear people share their thoughts on the film, some have taken it at face value, some found the essence behind why I made the film, while others have amazed me with their analysis of the film.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback has reaffirmed that at the core we are all the same, as everyone can relate to an aspect of this grandmother-granddaughter relationship and what they get up to within the week they’re together.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I hope that this film reaches as many people as possible. Seeing black and visibly Muslim women on the screen is not something we’re used to, sadly. The response thus far conveys that people are eager to watch and engage with films that tell stories of characters from different cultural backgrounds. I hope that aspiring filmmakers reading this, particularly those from cultural background we're not used to watching on the screen, are inspired to go out and create content that tells stories true to their voice and their experiences.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We’re open to anyone coming on board to allow this film to be seen by as many people as possible. We’re also trying to reach people from various backgrounds to also share their stories through the art of filmmaking. This can only be done if there’s support out there for films like this. We hope that being on this platform will draw more attention from various people who can support and amplify our film.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Bittersweet has been the first project for all our actors and also for me as a writer/director. As such, our hope is that it is received with love and is enjoyed by all who see it. It’s been a great learning curve for me and it has made me that much more eager to create more films.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What role should our elders play in supporting the growth of one’s cultural identity?
Also - The importance of bridging the generational gap by connecting through sharing what we love most about our respective worlds.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I’m currently writing a short series that I hope to make available later this year.
Interview: April 2018
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTIAQ+, scifi, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Bittersweet
Aisha and her friends are planning a slumber party before they all start different High Schools. Her mother, however, has other plans – forcing Aisha to stay with her Grandmother for a week before she leaves for Somalia indefinitely.
Length: 15 minutes
Director: Ayan Yusuf
Producer: Thi Nguyen, Ali B Dahe, Ayan Yusuf
Writer: Ayan Yusuf
Key cast: Azhar Hassan, Barlin Farah, Aisha Hussein
Looking for: producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists
Social media handles
Instagram: @ayanysf @ayanfilms
website: ayanfilms.com
Funders: Australia Post, Duke St Community House, Brimbank City Council, Victorian Government
Made in association with: Cinespace and Big Red Films.
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Setting Sun Film Festival and VMC Film Festival