Sara Jouhar Amazes the Audience at El Gouna with the Film "Happy Birthday" .. A Touching Human Story
Egyptian director Sara Jouhar confirmed that the reactions to her short film "Happy Birthday" exceeded all expectations, describing its screening at the eighth edition of the El Gouna Film Festival as an "exceptional moment" in her artistic journey.
In a special interview, Jouhar expressed her deep gratitude for the wide welcome the film received from the festival audience and filmmakers, confirming that El Gouna provided her film with a space to showcase human cinema that originates from the self and addresses others with sincerity.
* About the Film .. From Self to Screen
The film "Happy Birthday" is not just a birthday story, but an emotional and intellectual journey that explores childhood and memory, stemming from a personal experience the director went through, making the process of directing it a "complex psychological journey" rather than just an artistic adventure.
Sara stated that motherhood was a fundamental source that inspired her in shaping the film's emotions and dramatic structure, adding that the film's visual vision relies on intimate symbols and precise details that open windows to understanding the world.
* A Young Star .. With Great Talent
Regarding the choice of the child Dha'a Ramadan as the film's lead, Jouhar said she possesses a natural, unforced talent, describing her as a "smart child".
She confirmed that training the children was one of the most challenging stages of preparation, as it took a whole year to build trust and communicate with the children and their mothers through intensive interactive activities to create an atmosphere of psychological safety in front of the camera.
* Water .. A Symbol of Transformation and New Birth
The director explained that the element of water in the film was not just an aesthetic background, but carries a deep symbolism related to "purity, transformation, and rebirth".
She also noted that the choice of filming locations was done with great care to serve the internal dimension of the story and support the emotional state she wanted to convey.
* Real Tears on Screen
Jouhar talked about the touching final scene in the film, which brought together the young lead and the male lead actor, saying that she actually cried during the filming, sharing the child's feelings moment by moment, which added a painful and realistic authenticity to the scene.
* From El Gouna to the World
The young director expressed her happiness to participate in the El Gouna Film Festival, which came under the slogan "Cinema for Humanity", confirming that her film aligns perfectly with this slogan by addressing themes of childhood, absence, and the search for safety.
She concluded her remarks by saying:
"The film (Happy Birthday) is not just about a birthday, but about rediscovering the self in a silent world. Every screening of the film at a new festival is a new birthday for an idea I thought was small, but in reality, it is bigger than me and the film itself."
* About Sara Jouhar
Sara Jouhar is considered one of the most prominent rising female names in Egyptian cinema, known for her short works that carry intellectual and human visions, and for her ability to dive into the inner world of characters and present a sensitive and deep visual narrative.
