British author Shamim Sarif talks about the premiere of the UK release of her film called 'I Can't Think Straight' as debutante director
BY HARMEET VIRDI | MAR 23, 2009
Q. Tell me about your film 'I Can't Think Straight'?
SARIF: It's a little semi-autobiographical, but with younger and thinner actresses! My partner Hanan and I had been through a lot together, coming from a Muslim background and Hanan from a Christian Arab background. That was the starting point for the story and I think our experience was kind of traumatic for a while with our families, although things have settled down since then - so in a way 'I Can't Think Straight' was a rebellion against that and saying "Ok let's make this a romantic comedy and lighten it up a little bit". Also we wanted to make a film where you would end up rooting for the characters, rather than care that it was two women that end up together. Ideally that's the kind of world that we want to live in, where your gender or colour or religion was unimportant when weighed against your humanity and your integrity and that was basically the idea behind the film.
Q. The film is based on your own life, how true is it as a reflection to yourself?
SARIF: I think there are strong elements that reflect me. The introversion with the character of Leyla, the fact that she's a writer as well in the film, but you have to remember that its many people's lives reduced to an hour and a half of romantic comedy. The core of it is close to reality and the rest is fictionalised.
Q. What was the experience debuting as a director like?
SARIF: It was a baptism of fire (she laughs) because I had never really been on a film set before. I had taken courses but had never directed. I got the opportunity a lot quicker than I had expected, and it was tough because our investor was a nightmare. People would come to the set late, we wouldn't know where we were shooting, and we would get thrown out of our locations. So to try and organise that and stay on track was tough.
Q. Hanan Kattan, the producer of the film is your real life partner, (Shamim and Hanan have been together for over 13 years). What was it like to work with her and to re-live your own personal life tale?
SARIF: First of all working with Hanan is a dream, I love it. I imagine it would be really hard to both go to work and come home and would never really know what's going on in each others daily work lives. So it's amazing, but having said that sometimes I get ticked off because we are always working. In terms of the film, I think the coming out scene was particularly real and quite tough. Leyla is based on me and Tala on Hanan, in the middle of production you end up stopping and thinking to yourself, I remember this and it was quite an emotional roller coaster.
Q. You co-own the film's production company called Enlightenment Productions; tell me a bit about it?
SARIF: When I started screen writing, I optioned a script in Hollywood. It was a gentle story about unrequited love and the financiers were excited to have $15 million to make it but they wanted to put two sex scenes and a nude scene in it. And I said "But it's a story about unrequited love?" And it made me re-evaluate why I was a writer; was it just to make money because I could do that in a lot of other, less precarious ways. So we decided to set up Enlightenment Productions. The whole idea was to basically keep the integrity of what we set out to do in the first place, to make the film we wanted. We even produced the soundtrack for 'I Can't Think Straight' under Enlightenment Records, so it's slowly growing.
Q. The majority of the cast and crew were all female; had this helped the way the film has been portrayed on screen?
SARIF: That was the case on 'The World Unseen' more than 'I Can't Think Straight' and yes, it made a difference in a way. We didn't set out to have more women involved than men but the people that were the most passionate about the film were women and so they were all there for the best possible reasons. We didn't have a huge budget so we had people that really wanted to do this movie. It was great energy on set and I think that communicated itself in the finished movie.
Q. Lisa Ray and Sheetal Sheth play the two main leads in' I Can't Think Straight', how well have they depicted your characters in the film?
SARIF: Very well, they each bought something out in the script which was more than just what the roles were about. In particular Lisa was a stand out for me in 'The World Unseen' because out of the two she is very quiet in the film but you have to sense that the character is also very intelligent and she portrayed it well. With Sheetal she was great in both but 'I Can't Think Straight' stands out for me as she plays an introvert and is very quiet but she?s not like that in person at all.
Q. How are Lisa Ray and Sheetal Sheth as individuals? What made you cast them for your debut film as a director?
SARIF: Very different! I had a great time with both of them. I had two other people from London in mind but they both had a problem with the love scenes so I was forced to look wider. Hanan had met Lisa before in connection with the film 'Water' and when I saw her work; I knew she could do the role. Lisa is very down to earth, and she's always observing everything, and is also great fun. Sheetal is quite gregarious, she likes being on set, she interacts more with the cast and crew, where as Lisa keeps herself to herself and stays in character.
Q. Being Asian we still live in a society where being gay/lesbian is still considered unacceptable. How did you cross these parallels and how have your family accepted your decision of your sexuality?
SARIF: It took a while for me to get to terms with it as for a long time I felt it was such a taboo myself. I think meeting Hanan for me did it. It was my first female relationship and I think once you come to terms with it in your own mind it becomes a lot easier. Life is too precious to live a lie.
Q. If you could choose anyone for your next film what would be your ideal star cast?
SARIF: There are so many great actors out there. It would be hard to pick. Its not about the stars, it's about the quality. There are some superb French actors I would love to work with one day. I just saw 'I've Loved You So Long' with an outstanding performance from Kristen Scott Thomas.
Q. What are you most passionate about?
SARIF: My family and my work. I get very worked up about having the freedom to do what you want and I really hope it changes. I live in a privileged and free society but to see what happens in many parts of the world and what women go through makes you realise how much is still to be achieved.
Q. What are you driven by in life?
SARIF: Passion. I think I'm lucky to get up and do something I love with family and friends who are exceptional.
Q. What are your addictions?
SARIF: Good food and good wine!
Q. Your favourite reads?
SARIF: Great fiction and the International Herald Tribune. It's great, in-depth and well written journalism.
Q. Favourite pastimes?
SARIF: Going to movies and theatre, being with my family, playing the piano, cooking.
Q. Would you ever change anything about your life?
SARIF: I consider myself to be very lucky. I am with the person whom I adore and I have two beautiful healthy children, and I live in an amazing city and I get to do what I love everyday. No, I wouldn't change it, I hope it continues that way, and we have the freedom to continue to make films and write books. Of course I would love to have a flatter stomach, but hey you can't have everything. Or you can't have everything and eat as much as I do.
Q. After writing three novels, directing two films, what projects does this leave you with next?
SARIF: We?re working on two more projects and one is the Despite the Falling Snow and the other is The Dreaming Spires, which is the unrequited love story. It?s a period piece. Let?s see what happens.
Q. Lastly a few words from you to wrap it up.
SARIF: Be as honest with yourself as you can, or find someone who will be honest with you. Fear is a big killer of dreams and ideals. And I love Nelson Mandela's quote - "It's always impossible before it's done".
The DVD's of 'I Can't Think Straight' - are available for pre-order through www.enlightenment-productions.com
