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An expat filmmaker is hoping to raise awareness on social issues after uploading her first short film onto video-sharing platform YouTube.
Anita Sharma created her debut 20-minute movie, titled Jolie, which details the struggles and breakdown of traditional family values as a result of the relentless advancement of modern technology.
Anita, 34, originally from India but who has lived in Gufool, near Salmaniya, for seven years, has been writing both fictional short stories and factual articles centred on social matters for many years with some featured in leading newspapers in her native country. However, recent experiences compelled her to convey a more visual message, which led to the creation of Jolie.
She said: “I was inspired to do something about this issue when I saw a girl, no older than two years, in a restaurant crying to get a mobile phone from her father. She immediately stopped crying after he gave in and she started playing with it.
“On the same day, my family and I went to the beach to enjoy the sunset. I saw the vast majority of children and adults were totally engrossed with their gadgets. The sunset was beautiful and the sky was a vast mix of amazing orange and blue colours, but no one was bothered or remotely interested in enjoying it.
“As someone who adores nature, the fact that they were totally untouched by its beauty moved me deeply. I knew I had to do something about it.”
Jolie, named after the film’s eponymous character who represents gadget-obsessed children in modern society, depicts the communication troubles the girl has with her family and her reluctance to engage in typical family activities once technology is introduced to her.
Lacking previous experience with the art form, Anita enlisted family friend Biju Haridas to advise with camera direction and editing, while the minimal cast included her daughter Vibhuti, eight, as Jolie, her husband Prabhakar as Jolie’s father, her best friend Lata as the nanny, while she took the role of Jolie’s mother.
Anita, who also has an 11-year-old son, Vibhor, said: “It was the first time any of us had acted before, but we really enjoyed the experience and we are proud of the final result. We filmed it here in Bahrain and everyone has been really helpful in getting it produced.”
Despite the difficulties depicted in the film, the reality of Anita’s family life could not be more different. She explained: “I spend quality time with my kids as often as I can. They love to play games, even the ones I used to play myself in my childhood, but their absolute favourite thing is to listen to my stories. I have many to tell, and they all feature a special character called ‘Golu’.
“Sometimes I let them use gadgets, but only in moderation and the usage is always controlled.”
Anita’s next plan is to develop another film, this time an adaptation of one of her short stories, which in her words is based on people who commit suicide without realising that ‘God has given us the most precious gift imaginable, which is life’.
She is also writing a novel, as yet untitled but planned for release shortly, along with starting an online blog, which she hopes will become a popular commentary on social issues.
* Jolie can be viewed on YouTube at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGjQ0T8Pk1E
