An Iranian immigrant in his 70s struggles to adjust to his new life in the US, but after an encounter with a young girl living a rough life, he discovers a newfound sense of purpose and connection.

Creating art that is deeply personal can be both cathartic and challenging.

The process of drawing from our own lives and experiences risks exposing raw emotions and vulnerabilities, as was the case for me when I directed a short film inspired by my family's immigration story. 

While I felt compelled to tell this story and share it with others, making the film brought up painful memories that I had buried deep within. Finding an actor to play the main character proved to be a challenge. The character was an Iranian man from the 1970s who spoke fluent Farsi, and after reaching out to everyone I knew, I received no response. A friend of my dad, a great director based in Canada, suggested I audition my own father. 

Although I had considered the idea before, I was hesitant to take the risk, but ultimately decided to give it a try. During the process I realized I had underestimated my father's skills and should have utilized different techniques to fully explore his character.

Knowing how tired and pressured he would be, I had to compromise with a lot of aspects of this short, and although my father did not express his anxiety at the time, I later learned of it through my sister. 

Despite having a small budget for the film, I dove deep into pre-production, figuring out everything from locations to wardrobe and catering. I even had to paint walls and pull out extra furniture to make a short scene part of the story world.

To accommodate my father's fatigue, I limited the shoot time to eight hours and split it into two consecutive weekends in San Diego.

However, on the third day of filming, I experienced excruciating back pain that I had never felt before. The next day was slow and painful, and my internal and external pains continued to grow. Despite the successful completion of filming, the aftermath of the project left me feeling pretty low.

Directing my father in the film made me confront the trauma of my immigration and the sacrifices my parents made to come to the United States.

The project brought to light the reality of the struggles many immigrant households face, a reality that hit me harder than I anticipated. There were moments when I felt overwhelmed and wanted to let out a cry, as my thoughts dwelled on the things that are beyond my reach, and the things I am unable to provide for my family.

At times, I doubted myself and felt hesitant about releasing this film, but making my father happy and seeing his talents showcased on the big screen was worth it. 

Sacrifices are a part of life, and if my father could sacrifice so much to provide for his family- then I could certainly compromise and make some sacrifices of my own to make this project a success.

In the end, this project proved to be much more than just a film.

It allowed me to forge a deeper connection with my father, emulate his admirable traits, and pay homage to his cultural background.

Through this process, I learned about the significance of traditional customs and practices, and how they can infuse our work as artists with added significance. Despite the obstacles that arose, I am proud of the final result and will forever cherish the memories and lessons gained from collaborating with my father.

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Thanks for reading!

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Shahrooz

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