Private Project

The Fox and the Grapes

Ash wakes up to find his apartment in disarray, every corner trashed, and a mysterious stranger trapped on his roof terrace. As he grapples with his fragmented memories of the night before, he struggles to piece together what happened. The tension between them escalates, leading to a climactic confrontation. Desperate and with no other option, the stranger begins to recount a mesmerizing tale, one that echoes the timeless wisdom of an Aesop fable, unraveling secrets that challenge Ash’s understanding of reality and himself.

  • Assad Zaman
    Director
  • Assad Zaman
    Writer
  • Assad Zaman
    Producer
  • Tilly Mackintosh
    Producer
  • Julie Baines
    Producer
  • Brooke Lagana
    Producer
  • Roddy McDonald
    Producer
  • Imogen King
    Key Cast
    "Bri"
  • Bhav Joshi
    Key Cast
    "Ash"
  • Tom Byfield
    Director of Photography
  • Roddy McDonald
    Editor
  • Matej Strunc
    Original Music
  • Daniele Zazza
    Sound Design
  • Suzanne Knight
    Production Design
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Mystery, Fairytale, Drama
  • Runtime:
    23 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 9, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Assad Zaman

Assad Zaman is a British Asian writer, director and actor whose passion for storytelling extends from the stage to the screen. Driven by a desire to expand his creative horizons, his debut project, "The Fox and the Grapes," represents a culmination of his passion for collaboration and storytelling. Through this endeavor, Assad aims to contribute his unique perspective to the world of cinema while continuing to challenge conventional norms.

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Director Statement

My inspiration for this film stems from the Aesop fable, in which a fox, unable to reach a bunch of juicy grapes hanging from a tree, ultimately gives up and rationalizes his failure by claiming he never wanted them in the first place. This story serves as a poignant metaphor for the themes explored in the film: control and the human tendency to assert it as a defense mechanism when confronted with the unattainable or the incomprehensible.

In this narrative, Ash's initial reaction upon discovering the mysterious stranger on his roof terrace is not to ask, "Who are you?" but rather to declare, "The police are on their way." This immediate assertion of control starkly contrasts with the reality of his situation—one where he has no recollection of the previous night's events and no genuine authority over the unfolding chaos. Through this film, I delve into the psychological complexities of control, mirroring the fox's plight, and highlighting how the fear of the unknown can drive us to create illusions of dominance.