For many, film is an escape. For Sheikha Meera Al Qassemi, it was a breakthrough. “Growing up, I battled with depression and felt isolated,” she says. “I had difficulty expressing myself because of societal expectations and there came a time when I had just had enough, and being myself was all that was important to me.” What followed were years of self-discovery and self-expression through mediums such as art, poetry and singing until she found her true calling in experimental filmmaking.

I had difficulty expressing myself because of societal expectations and there came a time when I had just had enough

A media graduate, Al Qassemi always had an eye for film. “Call it psychic ability or plain talent, but I always know what is going to happen next in a movie,” she laughs. “I generally do not like being spoon-fed information whether it is from books or films. I appreciate some type of base for personal interpretation, so we can all relate to the piece of art in some way,” she adds. She took it upon herself to create a stirring piece of work that leaves a lot to your imagination.

In January this year, she unveiled Nanaira (2018) at Sharjah Film Platform, filling the audience with awe. ‘Nanaira’ means ‘To wonder’ in the Zimbabwean language Shona, and the 20-minute experimental film is about finding oneself through the four elements: earth, fire, wind and water. “A lot of people came to me and said they do not know why, but they feel cleansed after watching the film. And I am glad they did,” she shares.

I had difficulty expressing myself because of societal expectations and there came a time when I had just had enough, and being myself was all that was important to me

She gave a number of filmmakers the opportunity to shoot with the base of the four elements but weave different narratives. “By the end of it, we realized that everyone is dealing with frustrations in finding one’s home. It is a global frustration, whether it is about the physicality of a home or just the one within oneself.”

The film features a mélange of soul-stirring visuals, with iconography ranging from a waterfall symbolizing the release of emotion, to a paintbrush being vigorously washed in a glass of water, reflecting a whirlwind of sentiments. “The central character in the film is a reflection of myself,” she reveals.

On a journey to explore the world through her lens, Al Qassemi is now working on a short film about trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, which will be turned into an installation. We await her work with bated breath.

Photography by Efraim Evidor