JEDDAH: “The Window,” a short film from Saudi director Hamza Tarazan was recently featured at the Ahmedabad Film Festival in India under the chairmanship of the Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbav.
The film was also presented at the GCC Film Festival 2009 in Dubai, the International Festival for Short Films in Toronto and the Al-Reef Film Festival in Bahrain. The filmmaker’s two other short films, “Living Backward” and “The Basement”, obtained a number of awards and certificates of appreciation.
The nine-minute-long film narrates a story of a crippled young woman who secludes herself in a room and sits near a window reminiscing her past when she had a wonderful childhood among her parents, relatives and friends. The disability of the young woman symbolizes the challenges all Saudi women face in Saudi Arabia. “The film is sending a message to give more attention and care to women and to their causes with a view to encourage them to confidently engage society,” he said. “Women should be secure in their workplaces, homes and in the streets. They should receive all the care we could provide for them and should also be ensured of a bright future.”
Tarazan said his film was trying to indirectly project all these meanings.
“There is a transparent symbolism which is not difficult for the spectator to decipher,” he said.
Tarazan said he was thrilled to participate in the Indian film festival and that he was also happy to get acquainted with a number of Indian actors, directors and producers.
He urged young Saudi directors to participate in film festivals around the world in order to benefit from their expertise.
