Yunan

I envisioned an unconventional, visually striking film set primarily between Hamburg and the remote Hallig of Langeneß in Schleswig-Holstein, along with a desolate valley in a barren landscape. The story follows an exiled Arab author tormented by vivid dreams and inner demons, who embarks on a journey to a remote German island with the intent of ending his life. Amidst the depths of despair, an encounter with an elderly woman and her son reveals life's hidden beauty, igniting a silent yet powerful redemption and rekindling his desire for life. This film delves into the psyche of a refugee, offering an important but often untold perspective on the refugee situation anywhere in the world. It explores the allegorical nature of the refugee experience while maintaining an existential and theological layer that mirrors the journey of the human soul. "Yunan" explores the theme of estrangement, depicting the widening distances that emerge with exile. It touches on the isolation between past and present, the present and an unattainable future, loneliness, and the specific kind of despair experienced by those who grapple with overwhelming psychological afflictions. In this film, I employ a language that invites viewers to become active participants in the narrative. Much like in a novel where the drama is shaped by the author's writing, this film relies on visual storytelling to engage the viewer's imagination and personal experiences. I use silence and nonverbal communication, such as gestures, gazes, sounds, and music, to capture moments of intense emotion, reflecting my belief that cinema is most powerful when it shows a story rather than telling it. Regarding the visual and artistic universe, I juxtapose physical distancing techniques with foregrounded dialogue, creating a fusion of distance and proximity to evoke emotions in the most ordinary moments. The film's rhythm combines a static visual rhythm with a meandering storytelling pace, allowing the audience to immerse themselves in the moment. Rhythm, for me, is about guiding story progression and revealing important narrative information while keeping the audience engaged. We use tracking camera movements and Mise en Scène to plunge the audience into the world, whether it's the wintry Hamburg, the unique island nature, or the rugged landscapes of the shepherds' story, all to convey the passage of time. In terms of setting and aesthetics, the island becomes a character in itself. I aim to present the rural environment realistically but imbue it with a poetic aura that motivates the characters and drives their realizations. The film's visual approach transcends barriers to engage all the senses. We capture exteriors in subtle, subdued colors and drab winter light, creating contrasts that convey temperature, taste, and emotion. The film aims to bring the emotional facets of the story to life by anchoring feelings in time and space, providing viewers with an intimate and lingering cinematic experience.