NRFF Interviews Javid Rezai
Synopsis
Another Life is a portrait of two young women over a single day, whose lives are interconnected by the story that one of them is writing. Jen lives in a world of abuse and finds solace in the stories that she writes. As her final chapter draws near, her perfect character Emma quickly unravels.
Writer / Director / Producer: Javid Rezai
Lead Cast: Francesca Bailey (Winner) / Sally Paffet
Cinematographer/DP: William Hadley
Editor: Raf Curtis
Original Music / Composer: Stella Talpo
What NRFF had to say:
The New Renaissance Film festival loved “Another Life” for the emotional depth of the two central characters, Emma and Jen. This is a promising debut by first-time writer /director Javid Rezai.
About the Director
Javid Rezai is a British-Iranian-Italian director and screenwriter who graduated from Goldsmiths College, University of London. Before making his debut short film, “Another Life”, he worked at British Esquire. His short British drama, Another Life, premiered at the Festival Internacional de Cine de Madrid in July 2016. It has since been selected at a further 7 festivals globally, from London, California, Tokyo to Rome, and been nominated for 15 awards so far.
1.Congratulations to Francesca Bailey and your team on winning an award for Best Actress in the UK category at the New Renaissance Film Festival. How did it feel to have your film “Another Life” be part of the London festival?
Thank you! We are so proud of Francesca for this wonderful award. When I set out to make the film, as a first-time director, I never thought it would receive such a positive response, so it’s been both exciting and overwhelming at the same time!
2. Describe the journey of the two female characters in the film, and the challenges they have to overcome.
The film is set over a single day, so we join these two women at the crossroads of their journeys. Jens turbulent life is briefly muted when she escapes into the world of her stories; the death of her mother as a child, the neglect of her father and the abuse she has faced, have made her numb. It’s only when Sarah, a childhood friend, from a time for Jen that felt so ‘normal’, comes back into her life that she finally starts to answer the questions she’s been avoiding with her stories. As for Emma, played by Francesca, her life mirrors that of Jens mother who committed suicide when Jen was just a child. Emma’s perfect veneer cracks as she prepares for one of her dinner parties, and is also forced to question her situation; an unhappy marriage, pregnant, and a cheating husband. Both women, so different, but inextricably linked in their suffering, have to somehow find the strength to move on. In this case, it has a lot to do with the bond of sisterhood, friendships and maybe a little fate, that help carry them through.
3. What was the process that led to you writing “Another Life” and getting it made?
Doing the characters justice. It is such a heavily character-driven story, so I needed to ensure that their journeys and struggles felt honest. The subject matter is very sensitive. There are so many young people who are victims of abuse and don’t have the means to protect themselves or get out. Both Jen and Emma are suicidal, and the female suicide rate in the UK is at its highest since 2011(Samaritans.org – 2016 Study). So, my biggest challenge was creating an authentic story that was relatable to so many people around the world.
5. What lessons did you learn from your experience of making “Another Life”?
I didn’t know exactly what to expect as it was my first film. But I learnt the importance of having an incredible team around me – from Ryan J. Brown who was my script editor, to my DoP Will Hadley, my editor Raf Curtis and the rest of the cast and crew. I was constantly learning through every part of the film, and everyday brought new challenges and excitement.
6. Have you always had an interest in film and filmmaking?
Since I could remember, I have been in love with films and making films, whether it was playing around with my dads video camera, or forcing my best-friends and cousins to be in my own home movies.
7. What do you want audiences to take away from watching “Another Life”?
I’ve noticed people relate to different aspects of the film. There are so many threads that intertwine, and I just hope that people are able to relate to the film and leave with a sense of hope.
8. Are you working on anything new?
- Website: http://www.anotherlifeshortfilm.com
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