Flickerfest 2019 - How to Swim
Abigail is heavily pregnant, but something is missing. Terrified about the imminent birth, she kidnaps a comforting partner in crime for one afternoon.
Interview with Writer/Director Noa Gusakov
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
How to Swim is a story about a young woman who is about to become a mother for the first time. She goes on this one afternoon journey with a stranger to fulfil the missing part in her life that is impossible to complete.
I lost my mother almost 8 years ago, and after she died, I thought that now someone will now "adopt" me, take responsibility over me, but I had to learn very fast that no one is interested in being my mom. This endless need to have a mother figure in my life led me to tell this story.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It will make you laugh and it will make you cry. Hopefully at the same time!
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Well, I think that 90% of the world have or had a mother, so everyone can relate to this story. There's something very Israeli in the symbiotic relationship between kids to their parents, and yet this story could have happened anywhere in the world.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The main character in the film was supposed to be a guitar teacher. When I met Orli, the actress, and told her about my mother who was a puppeteer, she immediately told me that her character is not a guitar teacher anymore – she is a puppeteer like my mother. It affected the whole script and made it completely different than what it was.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Mostly emotional reactions. People tell me that they cried, and in screening I hear laughs, so it’s a good combo.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I didn’t expect it to be funny, and after the first screening, I realized people were laughing. I became a laughter addict and I got obsessed with counting them.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I always wish that my films will make someone less lonely, move something in the audience’s hearts, and gives them comfort.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Will you do [what you see in the film] in real life?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I'm currently writing a period teen-drama for the Israeli TV, and about to start to develop the screenplay for my first feature film.
Interview: January 2019
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, 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
How to Swim
Abigail is heavily pregnant, but something is missing. Terrified about the imminent birth, she kidnaps a comforting partner in crime for one afternoon.
Length: 15 minutes
Director: Noa Gusakov
Producer: Leah Tonic
Writer: Noa Gusakov
About the writer, director and producer:
NOA GUSAKOV is an Israeli filmmaker. "How To Swim" is her 5th short. She is currently working as screenwriter & editor for TV productions and developing her debut feature film.
Key cast: Dina Sanderson, Orli Zilbershatz
Looking for: film festival directors, journalists
Facebook: Noa Gusakov
Instagram: Noa Gusakov
Funders: Gesher Multicultural Film Fund
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Kustendorf Film & Music Festival in Serbia