Thankyou Mr.Badkoobeh, Director of “Dressage” for accepting to comment on the film for us, here in the Berlinale Generation. Movies In this particular section, are usually made and presented for the younger generation and are also more bracing and optimistic. But you seem to not insist on this special mood.
- That’s right. Dressage is a participant in Berlinale Generation. It is about the reality of the life of an Iranian family in Tehran Suburbs. The main focus though is a teenage girl named Golsa. The movie demonstrates the reality and issues that are particularly related to the teenage generation. It includes happiness and exhilaration and also difficulties. Therefore, a movie about teenagers isn’t necessarily a dynamic and cheery one.
Throughout the movie we see Golsa drifting apart from her friends and experience issues with her parents at the same time, gradually falling into a spiritual isolation. Would you consider this isolation a mental weakness or a strong point?
- In the beginning, she is boycotted from her peers and later her family due to the blackmail she is experiencing. This can be a weak point for her, but it can’t be considered a mental weakness at all since she stands strong, acting like she has nothing to lose although she is losing a lot.
This strong morals you are pointing to, where does Golsa get this from?
- From the beginning of this bizarre adventure, she is going through a lot of pressure and losing her belongings. All these difficulties start to put her in a very strong situation.
We see her exploring new hobbies and interests whilst drifting apart from her family and friends. Things like working and horse training. Also “Dressage” is a term related to horses. Did you mean to give this a symbolic meaning?
- The reality is Golsa likes Horses. And there are horse riding clubs and complexes near where she lives. The name “Dressage” was chosen because these horses are present in our story line. It can also bear symbolic meanings and concepts. Dressage horses are valuable animals that can not run freely in the nature, their beautiful way of walking is only possible in a closed area and under command. This could be a symbol of human today, living in big cities trying to achieve more money and better quality of life. Anyway, I don’t like to explain the symbols of the movie very much. The fact is that dressage is dressage and the horse is the horse, just as you see in the narrative
What big issues did you face whilst making the movie? Production? Facilities? Or in terms of working with your actors?
- In fact, coordinating a movie is never easy. Coordinating a big team to make a movie, specially since it was my first long movie was not quite simple. Also, most of my teenage actors were acting for the camera for the very first time, including Golsa herself. Anyway, it was hard and joyful at the same time. I was very pleased working with these young actors.
We wish you success in Berlinale. Thank you very much