WomenCinemakers vol V WomenCinemakers vol V | Page 62

…..NOUR.WAZZI………………………………………….
Inspired by true events,
is a story about Marcus, a
12-year-old kid who’s been aban-
doned by his mother and left with
his hard-nosed grandfather. Re-
signed to hiding out on a rooftop,
Marcus’s life takes a turn when
Trish, a girl he’s always liked,
comes looking for his help. I was
immediately drawn to this story of
innocence lost. These kids emulate
a youthful feeling of joy and a
carefree view of the world but
beneath it all they are riddled with
so much heartache, fear and
disappointment. This character-
driven narrative took inspiration
from the poetic and existential
ideas of Italian cinema, and
Bertolucci in particular, who was
focused on the individuality of
people dealing with changes in
their lives and no straightforward
solution. Even though these kids
are both in difficult situations, I was
adamant to capture a certain
lightness of spirit. This was
achieved with subtle and nuanced
performances from Michael Matias
(who I discovered in the west end
play ‘The Bodyguard) and Maisie
Williams (‘Game of Thrones’), and
a decision to use dramatic close-
ups sparingly. The music’s intricacy
which represents Marcus’s journey
and the light-handed touch of the
bouzouki’s
plucked
strings,
complimented by the fluid style of
shooting were also key in setting
the desired tone. When Trish
spontaneously arrives, Marcus’s
world immediately becomes more
whimsical, graceful and dreamlike.
Reflecting
Marcus’
seemingly
carefree existence, the rooftop is a
character in itself, symbolizing
tranquility and a sense of being on
top of the world.
In contrast, when we follow Marcus
to his granddad's shabby flat the
look and feel of the film shifts.
Illuminated by discreet shafts of
light, the flat is dark, dusty and
neglected – as if frozen in time.
Tension builds as it is revealed that
Trish’s boyfriend Darren and his
crew are looking for Marcus. My
intention was to move away from
typical heavy-handed depictions
and disheartening stories about
council estate youths in the UK – at
its core is a bittersweet tale of love
between two neglected kids. The
film aims to capture something of
the poetry and charm in life and
relationships. It strikes a balance
between the lyrical and the gritty,
interweaving moments of stillness
with the spontaneity and disarray of
youth.
W
ITH
EVERY
INCH
OF
ITS
SUPERWIDE FRAME CRAMMED
WITH
INVENTIVENESS ,
GRACE
AND
U P ON THE R OOF IS A
BRILLIANT FILM THAT COMES AT THE
VIEWER IN A TORRENT OF BEAUTIFUL ,
NOSTALGIC FEELING .
E SCHEWING ANY
DIRECT APPEALS TO SENTIMENTALITY ,
N OUR W AZZI IMBUES THE FILM WITH AN
ASTONISHING
VERITÉ
REMINESCENT OF
EARLY WORK .
QUALITY
S HARUNAS B ARTAS ' S
M OVING IN ITS SIMPLICITY
AND GRITTY IN ITS TEXTURES , UP ON THE
ROOF
DISCOVERS
CINEMATOGRAPHIC
MAJESTY AND MYSTERY WITHIN THE
EVERYDAY .
N OUR , W HAT INSPIRED YOU
TO EXPRESS YOURSELF IN THIS MEDIUM ?
Thank you for the beautiful words about
my short, I'm very touched and
humbled. I have always loved film - from
birth my mother would put me in front of
the TV screen behind a couch to distract
me from the sounds of the bombs and
bullets outside. I grew up as a film addict
and as a result had a vivid imagination
and loved telling stories. As a kid I used
to direct my friends in little plays we'd
perform to our families. At the time I had
no idea you could actually do this for a
living, and while I wrote short stories in
my free time, I grew up believing I'd
become a surgeon or biochemist and
do something worthy with my life like
find a cure for cancer! Little did I know
life had other plans for me, and when I
moved to London in 2003 everything
changed for me. The first time I directed
a film, it's like everything finally made
sense. Bringing stories to life brought
me to life. I'd finally found my calling.
Up on the Roof is a rare example of
true film poetry, a work of
astonishing intimacy and tenderness.
Can you tell us what attracted you to
this particular story?
At the time I was on the hunt for a thriller
or science fiction story as that is
direction I intend to be going in the
features and TV shows I'm developing