Trapped in a war ridden reality, eight-year-old Tala finds solace and freedom in a forbidden television. However, the secret TV becomes a matter of life and death.
Director Murad Abu Eisheh was inspired to write TALA’VISION after he came across an article about ISIS banning televisions in Syria 2014. The film highlights Tala’s struggle trying to live her childhood in a war zone. This heart wrenching film won the Gold Student Academy Award, qualifying it to be considered for a 2022 Oscar.
Murad, You have been drawn to fictionalize and portray stories out of the war-torn Arab Countries. Why is this so important to you?
For me, I feel a lot of films are about the Arab world but very few are actually from the Arab world. I would like to tell stories from this region because there are simply a lot of stories that are just waiting to be told, I would like to take part in building a voice of the Arab world, to help contributing in telling our own narrative. And hopefully in the process shed a light on all the injustices that take place in our region.
What inspired you to write, TALA’VISION.
I came across a small newspaper article in 2014, describing how ISIS banned Satellites and Televisions in their areas of control in Iraq and Syria. And I still remember the small photo of hundreds of piled television sets getting smashed. I kept thinking about that article, especially that I grew up attached to our television, it was my window to the world. I asked my self what kind of generation would we have if the children didn’t know how the outside world looks like? And what future our area has if such groups control the minds of our young. And at the same time during my work at the Syrian Jordanian boarders, I saw a little orphan girl following a group of Syrians crossing the boarders, she was all on her own. And her face left an impression on me for years. What was that little girls story? And how did she get here?
The combination of those two thoughts, became eventually the screenplay of “Tala’vision”.
Tell us about the film. Did you have any challenges while filming?
The biggest challenge in general while making the film was the casting process. I knew I had to find a very special girl to carry the heavy role of Tala. I have casted more than 200 girls until I found Aysha Balasem. It was a long process, but I knew it would make or break the film. But while filming my biggest challenge as a director was to work and direct a 7 year old girl that never saw a camera in her life.
In a war zone, what happens when the physical walls become mental walls?
I cannot claim to know how it is to be in a war zone, but from all my experiences and discussions with people who lived such situations, and my research and work with our actress Aysha. I can say when the physical walls become mental it would be the tipping point of any society into a cycle of violence and turbulence. Mental health is key in keeping a society stable and when that is broken for an entire generation of children, life and normality are never the same again. It would take generations to restore that balance into society.
Why is this film timely?
Because It’s a human story that is not about politics nor war, It’s a story of a little girl with a simple dream that could have taken place at any country. I can’t imagine any human not able to sympathies with a little girl that wants to watch Television.
What critical questions should be asked to the standing of the socio-political structures of the Arab World today?
Their are no specific set of questions that I could ask. I am questioning those standing structures them selves, In many cases in my opinion they are simply not functional and not able to deliver basic human rights and basic children’s rights to the people that live in region.
What is Tala’s vision?
Tala’s vision is simple, she is a child that is trying to understand an illogical world where dreams are forbidden. Her dream and vision is to be able to watch television and to play football like any other child. Basically to live her childhood.
What is next for you?
I just finished the production of my next short film “Mirage of a Sea”. At the same time I am working on my debut feature film “Salim”, that hopeful will go into production in 2023.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGldvCixkQM
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