Roles are flipped when a young woman must tend to her father's old age as she recalls a special childhood memory. Sunday is a short film directed by Joud AlAmri. We spoke to Joud about the making of Sunday. Joud Alamri is a producer and director, known for Perchance (2017), Belonging (2014) and Sunday (2017).
What was the inspiration behind the making of "Sunday”?
I was interested in exploring the progression of one’s relationship to a parent. In Sunday’s case, the relationship between father and daughter and how the caretaker role starts to gradually shift over the years as they both get older. I think it’s something that takes most of us by surprise, when all of a sudden you find yourself in a position where you’re now the one responsible for a parent’s wellbeing and how ironically heartbreaking that can be.
What were some of the challenges of making the film?
I’d say one of the most challenging aspects of making a short film is having to come up with ways of presenting your characters and their backstories in a way that’s relatable to an audience within a very limited time frame, which is why I was mostly nervous about the last scene in the film. My lead actress, Farida, had to get to a very emotionally vulnerable state in order to perform and I wanted that to look and feel as authentic as possible without exhausting her in the process, but we took our time with it and Farida was able to deliver a great and heartfelt performance.
When did you realize that you wanted to work in media and make films and what was the first film project that you created?
I realized it very early on as a kid. I knew I wanted to write and direct because I’ve always loved telling stories, but I would say that it wasn’t until college that I realized I could actually turn it into a career and that’s when I started to make films. The first project I did was titled Destructive Modus and although I made it such a long time ago, I still remember how much fun I had making it and from then on, I just kept making more films.
Which directors have been influential in your work and why?
I’m hesitant to name any, because while I look up to certain directors I think we are constantly being influenced by a massive volume of great directors and storytellers nowadays. Even the most obscure piece of work can spark something that has a great impact on you and your work and the list of influences just keeps growing with time
What genre of filmmaking do you like to work on?
I’ve been lucky enough to work on many films with various genres. I would say comedies and thrillers are the most fun to make, but when it comes to films I write and direct myself, Drama seems to be the genre I keep going back to.
What is the most challenging aspect of making an independent film?
Aside from having to make a project work with limited resources and tight budgets, I’d say putting together a trustworthy crew that you know will do the most to service the vision of a project is probably the trickiest aspect of making an independent film. Luckily, that starts to get easier the more films you work on, the more people you meet, the more your network expands to include people you know you can count on.
How can cinema change the world and have an impact on society?
I think cinema has always been one of our greatest and most influential means of communication. The fact that it has become so easily accessible nowadays just means there’s a greater opportunity and a wider reach for filmmakers to share meaningful stories from all around the world, which hopefully results in people feeling a little closer and with a better understanding of each other.