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An
interview with "Bexal's tears" stars from Abu Dhabi |
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An interview with "Bexal's tears" stars
from Abu Dhabi
7.3.2006
Interview by Curdo Mohd.
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An exclusive interview with
the Kurdish director Mr. Lauand Omer and the Turkish
Cypriot club singer and actress Ozzie by
KurdistanWeekly.com
The 3rd of March was a special day for the Kurdish
community in the United Arab Emirates since for the
first time ever in the Arab world; a Kurdish movie
is being screened.
The movie which is directed by the young Kurdish
director Lauand Omer and staring the Turkish Cypriot
singer and actress Ozzie, is called "Bexal's tears".
Bexal's tears is an approximately 85 minutes drama
that takes us to a small village in South Kurdistan
where we meet a young ambitious girl "Bexal" who
desires to make something out of her life. However,
being a girl in such a society does not help her at
all in fulfilling her dreams and desires. Her
parents control over her life and they've already
set her a marriage to her cousin Shwan and does not
see the significance of allowing their daughter to
go to university since home is where she must belong
according to their believes.
Bexal is broken-hearted and has no rights to do what
she pleases. The Kurdistan Regional Government is
encouraging human rights and the rights of women.
But can some families change their traditions? And
can some of our youth fulfill their dreams and
desires?
This interesting piece of work was participating in
the 5th Emirates Film Competition which is currently
being held in the capital's cultural foundation. |
Ozzie Aziz.
Photo:
http://www.ozzie4u.com/bekhal.shtml |
I personally heard about the movie through an online
article and was so joyful to hear that the movie is
actually going to be screened in Abu Dhabi where I
have been living for almost ten years now and never
have heard nor witnessed a Kurdish activity taking
place here. I was keen on finding extra information
about the event, movie, director and actors and
finally after a long search I managed to find the
actress Ozzie personal website and did drop an email
to her account but of course, I never expected a
reply! The next day I woke up in the morning and
logged into my Email account and to my astonishment,
I've received a reply from the actress Ozzie wishing
that I would enjoy the show and said that she is
going to be there so if I had the chance I could
pass by and introduce myself to her. And that's what
I exactly did. I was really surprised to bump into
her ahead of the show and find out how friendly and
wonderful personality she has. She introduced me to
Mr. Lauand the director and I told them about our
new website and then decided to meet the next day in
the afternoon for an interview at the Sands hotel
where they are currently staying at.
I called Lauand the other day and we agreed to meet
at 4pm at the hotel's lobby. I reached there 15
minutes ahead of the time we set and waited until
Mr. Lauand came at exactly 4pm . I've noticed that
he seemed rather tired or exhausted so I asked him
if he was ok and he told me that he couldn't sleep
well last night since he received a call at 8am in
the morning from a lady asking for an interview! He
should have put his mobile on silent I know! Well
we've talked about different things until Ozzie came
down so lively and fresh and I was sure that she did
manage to have better luck with sleeping than Lauand.
We've talked for a little while and then I decided
to ask them some questions to be posted in our
website and to let our people know more about the
movie and our director and actress.
Mohd: I would
like to congratulate you both for the great movie we
saw last night which is considered as your first
movie Mr. Lauand. You should be really proud of
yourself and so should you Ozzie.
Lauand: Thank you very much and I'm really
glad that you've liked it. It makes me happy to hear
that.
Ozzie: Thank you
so much that's so kind of you I'm really glad that
you've enjoyed it and did not have trouble with my
accent.
Mohd: Mr. Lauand,
your movie is considered as the first Kurdish movie
ever to be screened in the Arab world, what does
that mean to you?
Lauand: Is it? Wow I'm really surprised to
hear that! I think Kurds and Arabs are neighbors who
have similarities in culture, traditions and
religion and it's surprising to me that they've
never shown any Kurdish movies before in their
countries. I believe that in true cinema we can
learn more about each other and strengthen our
friendship and ties.
Mohd: Ozzie, is
this your first movie? And what's your feeling as
well as being the main actress of the first Kurdish
movie to be screened in the Arab World?
Ozzie: Yes, it
was actually my first movie. I've done shorts ones
before though with Lauand. I've been performing on
stage and stuff like musicals on theaters. As for
the second part of your question, yes I'm really
proud I'm so proud actually with being the first in
this matter but I'm really surprised as well to hear
that. We should all be supportive to each other and
I don't get the reason why they've never screened a
Kurdish movie here before even though they were some
really good ones made.
Mohd: Mr. Lauand,
where are you originally from? And what were your
professions before being a director?
Lauand: I'm a 25 years old Kurd from Qamislo.
Born in Beirut and I'm currently moving between
Florida and Kurdistan. I was actually in school
therefore I had no other profession than this one.
I've wrote lots of short stories before and done
comedy shows in the US. I have 3 short movies
including the 45 minutes comedy called "sex
overdose". I've also directed the video clip of
Ozzie's song "Let me be".
Mohd: What about
you Ozzie?
Ozzie: Well I
was born in London and I'm a 27 years old Turkish
Cypriot who's currently living in America. I'm a
recording artist and I've done some acting and
singing since I was 5 years old.
Mohd: what kind
of music do you play and what's your favorite type?
Ozzie: I
actually like mixing things. I love bringing things
from the East and West together and I love to see
people getting a long with each other well. I
actually haven't got a favorite type of music it all
depends on my mood. I also love the Middle Eastern
music and the fluid is certainly one of my favorite
instruments.
Mohd: Ozzie, why
do they call you the Madonna of Mesopotamia?
Ozzie: "laughs"
… well I don't actually know the exact reason why
they do call me that but Madonna is always known for
something new, she is sexy and spiritual at the same
time and I guess I'm like her somehow.
Mohd: Mr. Lauand,
how would you describe yourself in few words?
Lauand: Well living in different parts of the
world while growing up made me the man I am today.
I'm way open minded, I never judge people and I love
discovering new things in this mysterious world.
Mohd: What do
you have to say about yourself Ozzie?
Ozzie: I'm very
positive. I always look at the positive aspect of
life. I'm a teacher but at the same time I'm a
student of life. I try to learn things from every
place I go and visit. I'm also very spiritual but I
do have two sides.
Mohd: Mr. Lauand,
what made you become a director?
Lauand: I've been in love with movies since I
was a little kid. I've played in theater long time
ago when I was in Germany. I've actually acted in a
short movie before but I hated myself when I watched
it. So I've decided to create something new and my
god I just love creating movies and watching them in
big screens.
Mohd: Mr. Lauand,
out of all themes and topics that can be discussed
nowadays in Kurdistan , you've decided to talk about
the female issue. Why is that?
Lauand: Bexal herself in the movie is a human
issue. Our youth in Kurdistan need something for
themselves. They need to be happy after all the
misery and genocides that happened to our nation
before. Our youth are still suffering till today in
Kurdistan and they can not fulfill their dreams or
desires. Men can't have girlfriends so imagine how
things would be for Bexal who is a woman. Kurdistan
always had a great nature, and I believe nature
helps people to be happier but it's not the case
when it comes to our people. Despite the lovely land
we have, our youth aren't happy at all with their
lives.
Mohd: and why
did you choose the name Bexal? And did you take it
from the name of the beautiful waterfall "Bexal"?
Lauand: Yes I love that wonderful waterfall
as I'm in love with the nature of Kurdistan.
Mountains in general represent freedom to me and
human needs. The waterfall drops water down just as
when the girl "Bexal" cries in the movie. And as
you've noticed in the end when the old woman who
people used to think that she is deaf told Bexal
that only the mountains can change us which
indicated on the significant role the mountains
plays in our society too.
Mohd: Ozzie, do
you think that the movie has changed something among
the Kurds in Kurdistan ?
Ozzie: yes I
really think that the movie did help some people to
change the way they look at females. We had boys
acting in the movie and in the early days when I
used to sit down with them, none of them talked to
me nor even looked at me which made me really
shocked. I'm used to having guys as normal friends
and I wanted to be their sister. I've asked them why
don't you mix with girls and they told me that it's
disrespectful. But I insisted that they should talk
to their sisters and to communicate with the other
gender. I did manage to convince the boys there in
the end and whenever they saw me later on, they used
to come and give me a hug and talk over their
problems. You always need time to change things.
Mohd: Ozzie,
when did you meet Lauand and what made you play the
role of Bexal in the movie?
Ozzie: Well I
met Lauand 9 years ago in Mexico and became great
friends since then. As for the reason why I've acted
in the movie, Lauand was telling me about it when he
was in Kurdistan and I were in Florida and we used
to keep in touch via Emails. He was explaining to me
that finding a Kurdish girl to play this role was
almost impossible and they might kill her. The weird
thing is my grand mom was the one who told me that I
can do it and that Lauand is not going to find a
girl for Bexal's role in Kurdistan. Lauand is my
friend and I wanted the movie to be perfect and I
don't speak Kurdish. But I've tried my best to learn
Kurdish and give my best.
Mohd: What did
you think of the Kurdish language?
Ozzie: Oh it was
a very difficult language to learn and to speak.
It's nothing like Turkish. The pronunciation is so
different with all the two "H's" and it's just a
complicated language to me and it's totally
different from the Turkish language.
Mohd: What are
the differences between Ozzie and Bexal and was it
easy to play her role?
Ozzie: Well it
wasn't that easy at all since I'm a city girl and
everything there at the village was new to me. I had
to learn lots of stuff like baking, washing clothes
and dealing with animals. I really think that Bexal
is a very interesting character and I enjoyed being
her and I was learning lots of things as if I was a
child.
Mohd: Mr. Lauand,
I've heard you mentioning yesterday ahead of the
screening the vital role which the Kurdistan
Regional Government played to help you complete your
movie. What are some of the means of support that
the KRG offered you?
Lauand: Yes the KRG were so helpful and
without them, we would have faced lots of problems.
They offered financial help especially from Mr.
Necervan Barzani, they supplied us with a 24 hours
security during our stay. The KRG are keen on
developing things in Kurdistan and they encourage
education and women rights. They have made
universities free and the books are free as well and
transportation available even for students who are
coming from villages. So why not take advantage of
everything the Kurdish government is offering to its
people?
Mohd: You've
mentioned Mr. Necervan Barzani earlier, could you
tell us more about his personality and they way
you've perceived him?
Lauand: Mr. Necervan is a very nice young
man. He speaks English pretty well and he is so
supportive to the youth in Kurdistan and he
recognizes that the youth are the most important
thing in a nation. He is very calmed as well and I'm
so thankful to his help and he is always looking for
a better change.
Mohd: Ozzie,
what's your opinion about Kurdistan and the Kurdish
people?
Ozzie: I really
grew to love it. I was kind of worried at the
beginning and so was my grand mom. She encouraged
playing the role as I've mentioned earlier in the
interview but she was worried that there might be
people who would hate me or harm me for being a
Turk. I was really different from the people there
but I managed to get a long with them in a good way
and the Kurds are very nice people. I really loved
them.
Lauand: Yes but she was not that welcomed at
the beginning by some because they were jealous
maybe that a non Kurdish actress is playing the main
role in a Kurdish movie but then I asked them if
they would allow their sisters to take Bexal's role
and no one said a thing.
Ozzie: Well yes
it could be so but anyways they were really nice to
me in the end and again I really loved Kurdistan and
what I loved the most was the nature of the land.
There was something strange hidden inside the faces
of the Kurdish children, they would smile to you
despite their misery and sadness.
Mohd: Mr. Lauand,
What does Kurdistan mean to you?
Lauand: I'm Kurdish and we Kurds have a part
in Iraq now that we can actually call Kurdistan ,
our history is covered with blood and genocides.
Therefore South Kurdistan will have something that
all Kurds will be proud of and feel relaxed and
good. The development is underway. Kurds are human
being too and we demand our rights and we should be
free to have our own country as well. It's a matter
of human rights issue.
Mohd: A kind of
odd question for you Ozzie, How do you think the
Turkish government reaction might be towards
everything you're doing for Kurdistan?
Ozzie: "laughs"…
The most important people I have as friends and
people I like are considered as my family and I
really care for them and as long as they are happy I
would feel happy too and wouldn't care for what the
rest of the world might think. I'm a leader and I'm
free to do whatever I please. We all have one god
and we are all human beings. I think the Turk will
have problems but I wouldn't care. We are neighbors
and I want the two nations to live in peace and have
their rights. And at the same time, I would like to
unite the Kurds and Turks.
Mohd: That's
great and in the end governments are not necessarily
reflecting the opinions of their nation.
Lauand: Yes you are right. It's not always
the case.
Mohd: Mr. Lauand,
if you had to make one wish or to have a dream
becoming true, what would that be?
Lauand: God this is a difficult question
"laughs"
Mohd: And that's
why it's on the list maybe "laughs"
Lauand: Well right now the wish would be
happiness for everyone and that all people would
live in peace.
Mohd: And what
do you have to say about this question Ozzie?
Ozzie: I wish to
be given the power that enables me to use my art in
a way that changes something in life. So when I die,
people would visit my grave and remember me in a
great way for the things I've given to life.
Mohd: Mr. Lauand,
do you think that you're moving the Kurdish cinema a
step forward maybe? I mean you are dealing with
something which some may consider as sensitive
issues. And you are dealing with inner and social
habits found in the Kurdish culture while other
movies have been mainly focusing on the political
aspect even though they were great I mean I'm sure
you've heard about "Turtles can fly" the movie which
won an award at Spain's San Sebastian festival last
year and Mr. Hawner Saleem's "Kurdistan kilometer
zero" movie that has reached the Oscars last year?
Lauand: Yes of course I've heard about the
two movies. And my movie is considered as the first
Kurdish movie that deals with taboo issues. It's a
movie directed by a young director for the young
crowd. And it helps the diversity in our movies.
Actually the critiques were really bad to me in
Kurdistan and they've put me down actually. They've
focused mainly on the negative sides of my movie and
never told me the positive ones. But I've been
receiving several messages from the young generation
in Kurdistan who thanked me for the movie and told
me that they've liked it a lot.
Mohd: Mr. Lauand,
what are your future plans?
Lauand: The Mid Eastern talent agency has
been opened. And I'm a part of the community 2HOT
entertainment which collects the best actors in the
Middle East in order to strengthen the missing link
of art between the Middle East and the west. And I'm
basically looking for actors now in order to shoot
my next movie in Kurdistan well this summer which is
going to be the first Kurdish horror movie ever and
probably the first of its kind all over the Middle
Eastern countries. The movie is going to have Ozzie
in it too and it's going to be called "The mistress
of Mesopotamia" and the story is going to be based
on Kurdish legends and I'm hoping to make the movie
an international one with different languages in it.
Mohd: And what
about your future plans Ozzie?
Ozzie: I want to
be performing till I drop dead. I don't plan
actually. I'm going to prepare new music and in June
I will be heading to Kurdistan once again to act in
Lauand's horror movie. I love working with Lauand
and I don't care who you actually are nor how much
you would pay, If I didn't like the person it's
impossible for me to work with them but it's
different with Lauand I really love him and he is my
best friend and I wish him all the best and he has a
lot to give. I think basically we are on a mission
here; we both grew up in the west and the people
here are having a bad impression on Islam and
blaming everything on religion but you really can't
blame these people and we are here to work together
in order to show the world another side of Islam.
Mohd: Mr. Lauand,
why have you chosen to participate in Abu Dhabi's
film competition?
Lauand: I've actually finished filming my
final edit one month ago "the full version". Then I
decided to look at the world's festivals and I got
interested in the UAE and I showed them my movie and
they were really interested in it and they said that
they've been looking for screening a Kurdish movie
for the first time in their country and I had not
problem at all.
Mohd: How do you
evaluate your visit to Abu Dhabi Ozzie?
Ozzie: It has
been a great experience here and I've been always
interested in the Middle East and the UAE is a great
spot to see and I like the culture and everything
and I'm going to be back for sure. Actually I and
Lauand were invited to be back here next year.
Mohd: Ozzie,
when you heard that no one is ready to play the role
of Bexal in Kurdistan . Did you consider yourself
brave maybe for being Bexal and the hero of the
movie?
Ozzie: Well I
actually don't think of myself as being the hero in
this movie. As I said that I always look at the
positive side of everything. It was exciting to help
the women there, teach them not to be afraid and to
enjoy life.
Mohd: One last
word to your audience and people who are going to be
reading the interview through the main source "Kurdistanweekly"
website and other sites through the net?
Lauand: I would like to say that the movie is
a great experience for the youth all over the world.
Better works are coming soon and feel free to visit
my personal website www.lauand.tv be in touch with
my latest news.
Ozzie: I would
like to say that we are not trying to attack anyone.
We want to change things for the benefit of people.
And I would like to thank everyone for accepting me
Mohd: Thank you
very much Mr. Lauand and Mrs. Ozzie and I wish you
both the best of luck in your career and I'm looking
forward to your new horror movie and remember that
I'm always here if you needed any type of
advertisement and you have the full support of our
website.
Lauand: Thank you so much Mohd and I've
already checked the KW website and saw something
about my movie and I will keep you updated with the
latest news.
Ozzie: Thank you
so much Mohd and it was a pleasure meeting you and I
will save your website address to visit it in the
future.
www.kurdistanweekly.com
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