Short film by Dania Bdeir Varsha has won more than 60 awards since its premiere at Sundance earlier this year, including the festival’s award for best short film, and the Lebanese writer-director was in Jeddah this week to compete for the title at the second edition of the Red Sea International Film festival premiere week.
Bdeir stopped by Deadline’s Red Sea Studio to talk about the Oscar-nominated project. It’s about a Syrian contractor in Beirut who decides to replace a colleague who died in an accident in a tall, dangerous crane. Tens of meters above the city, far away from prying eyes, he experiences the freedom that no one else grants him.
“We see cranes all the time, but we never really think about this person who lives in this little cabin and this person is driving this big machine and can see the world, but no one can see it,” Bdeir said.
Noting that crane operators in Lebanon are “mostly Syrian and undocumented and underpaid,” she drew inspiration for her main character. “There was probably always a division between the workers and the bosses and engineers.”
After informing her cameraman of the shot she needed on the crane, as he approached the ladder and looked into the crane cabin, Bdeir said he handed her the camera and said, “Listen, I have kids.” Good luck, I hope you get what you need.”
Bdeir then had to face the shot herself to get what she needed. “Even though I’m not afraid of heights – I see, I do skydiving and bungee jumping – but at this stage on the ladder I became afraid of heights.”
The film will be shown in this week’s Red Sea: Shorts Competition. Watch the video above.
Author: Diana Lodder trousers
Source: Deadline
Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
