In so many films like WALUD (2025), which depicts the life of an ISIS fighter and his relationship with his two wives, the women are given very little agency. They have things happen to them and deal with the consequences rather than decide their own story. WALUD isn't that type of film.

It's the work of co-directors Louise Zenker and Daood Alabdulaa, film students who made a visually stunning and culturally relevant film about unexplored lives. If there's justice in the world, we'll see it nominated for an Academy Award. Streaming soon in Germany, the rest of us will have to wait to watch, but trust me, it's worth it. I'm looking forward to what Louise and Daood work on next.

In this episode, we discuss:

• what filmmaking is like in Syria now (WALUD was set there but filmed in Tunisia);
• how they got started in filmmaking;
• the challenges and benefits from co-directing;
• how they developed the story of WALUD;
• how they want the audience to feel while watching the film;
• the dilemma that the women depicted in the film wouldn't be able to watch the film in Syria;
• what stories are out there that need to be told from a Syrian perspective -- more comedy!;
• the role of new film festivals in the Middle East;
• documentary v. narrative filmmaking and how they choose what to do;
• what they would have differently for the film;
• when you could expect to watch WALUD (Germany -- you're in luck!);
• its chances at the Oscars and the unique qualities of the film;
• what's next for them and when you can expect to watch WALUD.

Louise's Indie Film Highlight: SHAHID (2024) dir. by Narges Kalhor

Daood's Indie Film Highlight: WHO DO I BELONG TO (2024) dir. by Meryam Joobeur

Memorable Quotes:

"There was this whole topic about fertility and having kids and what does it mean to be a woman in a patriarchal society?"

"These women have agency and they are strong characters that stand tall."

"A lot of the dramatic stories are more of a cry for visibility as well to just try and get the world to look at what is happening because the world needs to look at what is happening."

Links:

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