Breakfast avec Haga Sa’a (Something Cold)

Interview with Amrosh Badr, director of Haga Sa’a (Something Cold)

 Firstly, could you tell us about your choice of title?
It’s a little bit tricky because in Egypt when we say “something cold”, we mean Cola, and there is that boy who gives Cola bottles to the people and to the main character in the final scene, but it also means that every character has “something cold” inside their soul.

 Can you tell us about Alexandria and why you chose to focus on the city for your film?
Alexandria is a Mediterranean city and the second capital of Egypt, it used to be the first capital. It has always been a cosmopolitan city, and its people have changed a lot after many revolutions have happened in Egypt, for example in 1911, 1952, and 2011. Now, people are more desperate and isolated. I chose Alexandria because I believe that a filmmaker must tell stories that he is part of, or close to. I was born and raised in Alexandria and I’m really close to the people in my film.

 What would you like the audience to take from the final scene in which people are dancing?
Dancing always comes with joy, but sometimes you can be dancing while having complicated feelings and maybe not feeling fine.

 Any cinematic coups de cœur in the past year you’d like to tell us about?
I’m not sure if I get the question right, but if you mean in general, yes, I loved Fire at Sea (Fuocoammare, 2016), an Italian documentary directed by Gianfranco Rosi. I enjoy this kind of cinema which is close to the soul and the characters’ deep feelings, showing human values, observing real life and reflecting imagination.

 If you’ve already been to Clermont-Ferrand, could you share with us an anecdote or story from the festival? If not, what are your expectations for this year?
It will be my first visit to Clermont-Ferrand, I expect to watch great films from all over the world with different cinematic languages, and meet filmmakers, producers, distributors and festival programmers, and I am also looking forward to discussing my film, seeing it screened in those big theatres and visiting Clermont-Ferrand.

 Are any other releases scheduled?
No, it’s the first screening of the film and there is no other screening scheduled yet.

 Are you taking part in other events during the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival? (Espressos, Conferences, other?)
Yes, sure, I’d like to be part in filmmaking discussions and talk with other directors, students or producers, and if there is a filmmaking lecture I’d like to join as well.

Haga Sa’a is being shown in International Competition I13.