Huffington Post 2019 – Kamali
A single Indian mother's fight for her daughter's empowerment through skateboarding.
Interview with Director/Producer Sasha Rainbow
Watch Kamali on Waterbear
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I was living in Paris and researching and writing about the plight of the Roma, but I knew I needed to move away from music videos in order to work on such a serious piece. A documentary was the obvious step in the evolution of my career.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Kamali is a fun and uplifting film that shows us a rare glimpse into the world of a lower caste fishing family. The film highlights generational change happening in India and throughout the world, showing how massive change can start with just one person.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
As an immigrant whose mother was a refugee, I am very interested in how my own family made decisions that paved the path for the opportunities and lifestyle I have today. This film focuses on the relationship between a mother and a daughter, that exposes the wider feminism taking hold of the world, even in the smallest ways. It also shows how underground movements such as skateboarding are becoming a tool for cultural change and female empowerment in patriarchal societies.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The whole process of editing the film evolved from being an idea documenting the burgeoning female skateboarding movement in India to the far more personal story of Kamali and her mother. Over a couple of years, we cut the film in several ways, first attempting to show a much larger representation of the world around them, only to finally focus on this one very important relationship between mother and daughter.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The film has won many awards, including the top accolades at three Academy qualifying festivals, so we couldn't really ask for much more. The best feedback I had was being told that a grown man, a skater, cried when he saw the film. It doesn't get better than that.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback has been relatively universal, which has been great. I think there's been a surprise from the audience about how skateboarding features in the film, perhaps in some cases in an unexpected way.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I'm hoping as many people are able to share and be inspired by Kamali and Suganthi's story, and be reminded there are positive things happening in the world that they can be a part of.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I welcome anyone interested and inspired by the film's message to reach out.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We are currently working with the community to try and build a new, larger skatepark so that Kamali is able to improve her skateboarding level without having to leave her family. She's also started teaching other young girls so they need plenty of room for them all.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Let's talk about the representation and inclusion of the female narrative in traditionally male-dominated sectors such as skateboarding and films!
Would you like to add anything else?
We all have the power to change the world. It’ll be awkward, but our voices and our actions are our weapons. Stand up for what you believe in, always be curious and fight hard. Make your life worth something.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am currently writing my first feature fiction (One Degree, Of Separation) a twisted family black comedy, as well as developing my other short documentary, Kofi and Lartey, about One Man's mission to get two boys off an electronic waste dump and into the world, into a feature, among other things!
Interview: December 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
Kamali
A single Indian mother's fight for her daughter's empowerment through skateboarding.
Length: 24:00
Director: Sasha Rainbow
Producer: Sasha Rainbow
Writer: Sasha Rainbow
About the writer, director and producer:
Award-winning director SASHA RAINBOW has been focusing on narrative film to highlight social causes, which has taken her to countries such as Ghana, India, Romania and Thailand. Sasha is determined to use storytelling to throw light onto heroic role models in underrepresented communities, which she believes is just what the world needs.
Looking for: journalists, buyers, film festival directors
Facebook: Kamali
Instagram: @kamalifilm
Hashtags used: #girl skate India, #Female Empowerment, #Kamalifilm, #FemaleFilmmakers, #Girls Shred
Website: www.kamali-film.com
Other: YouTube