{"id":116938,"date":"2025-04-08T10:04:33","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T10:04:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/syrian-french-filmmaker-reveals-tennis-drama-love-45-set-in-a-post-assad-era\/"},"modified":"2025-04-08T10:04:33","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T10:04:33","slug":"syrian-french-filmmaker-reveals-tennis-drama-love-45-set-in-a-post-assad-era","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/syrian-french-filmmaker-reveals-tennis-drama-love-45-set-in-a-post-assad-era\/","title":{"rendered":"Syrian-French Filmmaker Reveals Tennis Drama \u2018Love 45\u2019 Set in a Post-Assad Era"},"content":{"rendered":"

What themes do Anas Khalaf and Rana Kazkaz explore in their films, particularly regarding the Syrian conflict? How does the film ‘Love 45’ differ in tone and message compared to ‘The Translator’? What personal experiences influenced Khalaf\u2019s storytelling in his new project? How does Khalaf hope to portray the characters\u2019 journeys in the context of trauma and redemption? What role does tennis play in the film, and how are its philosophies integrated into the narrative?<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Khalaf and Kazkaz\u2019s allegorical short film Mare Nostrum<\/em> (2020) tapped into the resulting Mediterranean Sea migrant crisis as people fled the conflict, with Ziad Bakri playing a harrowed father who inexplicably throws his young daughter into the sea. <\/p>\n

Political thriller The Translator<\/em> (2020) explored the early days of the revolution and the decades of oppression that preceded it, through the tale of a political refugee living in Australia who returns to Syria in search of his brother after he is arrested by the authorities for protesting. <\/p>\n

Khalaf is now in the late stages of development on Beirut and Bekaa Valley-set tennis-themed fiction feature Love 45<\/em>, which he has been presenting to potential production and sales partners this week at the Doha Film Institute\u2019s talent and project incubator event Qumra. <\/p>\n

The picture evolves around an overweight Lebanese man, called Walid, whose unresolved childhood trauma has set him on a self-destructive path. He finds redemption when he is asked to help set up a tennis camp for Syrian refugee children traumatized by their experiences in the war. <\/p>\n

This task results in life-changing encounters with French humanitarian worker Maya and 12-year-old Syrian refugee Laith, who turns out to be a tennis prodigy. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe takes him in, cares for him and makes him the tennis player he never became himself,\u201d says Khalaf. \u201cIt\u2019s a story about transmission, healing and how you break the cycle of trauma.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Translator<\/em> was very dark, very hopeless. Love 45<\/em> is much more hopeful, full of light. I want it to be on the other end of the spectrum. At the end of Love 45<\/em>, I want the audience to be in love, to want to make love and want to play tennis,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n

Khalaf has tapped into his own passion for tennis, complicated relationship with food as well as attempts to break a cycle of trauma caused by moving back and forth between Syria and France as a child due to the political situation. <\/p>\n

He co-wrote the screenplay in 2021 with Kazkaz, who is now working on her own feature project and not co-directing this time. It had to be rejigged following the fall of al-Assad to reflect the new reality for refugees, he says. <\/p>\n

\u201cSyrian refugees are not welcome in Europe anymore. They\u2019ve stopped doing the paperwork, saying, \u2018Now Assad is gone, the threat is gone, you can go back to Syria.\u2019 It\u2019s not the best time to go back but it\u2019s still safer than it was under Assad,\u201d says Khalaf. \u201cWe have incorporated that into the script. It brings a timebomb element for Laith who was on the cusp of joining family in France.\u201d <\/p>\n

The film is being produced by Marine Vaillant at Paris and Marseille-based Special Touch Studios, whose previous credits include Michelle and Noel Keserwany\u2019s Berlin Golden Bear-winning short Les Chenilles<\/em> and Dahlia Nemlich\u2019s Somewhere in Between<\/em>, which won best short at the Red Sea International Film Festival in 2023. <\/p>\n

The production has an agreement in principle with Swiss actress and director Laetitia Dosch for the role of Maya, and Lebanese, Paris-based actor Charif Ghattas, who is also a tennis player, for Walid. Laith will be played by a non-actor. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a question of either finding a 12-year-old actor and teaching him tennis, or a tennis player and teaching him how to act\u2026 we went with the latter as it would have taken too long to get a non-tennis player to the level of a pro,\u201d says Khalaf. \u201cHe is the son of the coach of Syria\u2019s Davis Cup team, who I know because he used to be my old tennis coach.\u201d <\/p>\n

Khalaf says there will be a fair amount of tennis intertwined with the off-court drama, as well as allusions to Roger Federer and his philosophies around focus, resilience, and not dwelling on past lost points. <\/p>\n

\u201cRoger Federer is mentioned throughout the film in the narrative. We\u2019d love to get him on board in some sort of capacity,\u201d says Khalaf. <\/p>\n

Production partners include UK-based Cocoon Films (Lyd<\/em>, The Teacher<\/em>) and Switzerland\u2019s Tipimages Production (The Translator<\/em>). <\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to add another country which would be Luxembourg or Belgium, but we\u2019re in discussion about that one,\u201d says Vaillant. <\/p>\n

Backers to date include the DFI, Cairo-based film company Mad Solutions (Egypt), and So Medias Invest, while Vaillant will also be applying to France\u2019s National Cinema Centre (CNC), as well as looking to tap into regional post-production schemes in southern France. The production has yet to set a sales company. The Translator<\/em> was sold by Charades. <\/p>\n

\u2018There is a lot of interest because there are hardly any films coming out of Syria and Lebanon in this vein. We have a daring point of view because it\u2019s based on hope. We need hope. There\u2019s also a mix of commercial appeal. It\u2019s an entertaining film with a deep topic. That\u2019s at the heart of the DNA of what we do at Special Touch Studios \u2013 we want to entertain audiences and make them think at the same time.\u201d <\/p>\n

Khalaf and Kazkaz were living in Damascus at the time of the 2011 pro-democracy protests and fled in 2012 as the situation deteriorated. The Doha-based director returned to Syria briefly two weeks after the fall of al-Assad on December 8, 2024. <\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to go. I was on the wanted list of the regime for all these years for making The Translator<\/em> so I couldn\u2019t go back. I wanted to see my family and what had happened to the country,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Syrian. I grew up in many places but I\u2019m from Syria, so it was very hard to not be able to go back for all these years, from 2012 to 2024, almost 2025. It was very moving, very intense. There is a lot to do, and I want to be part of rebuilding the new country and its new departure.\u201d <\/p>\n

Beyond Love 45<\/em>, Khalaf still has his sights set on completing two other previously announced films \u2013 The Photographer<\/em> and Trainer<\/em>, part of a planned trilogy with The Translator<\/em>. <\/p>\n

The Photographer<\/em> is about Syrian military police whistleblower Farid Nada al-Madhhan, code-named Caesar, who leaked photos of tens of thousands of people who died under torture and neglect while in al-Assad\u2019s notorious detention centers. <\/p>\n

Trainer<\/em> follows the story of Syrian soccer coach Osama Abdul Mohsen, whose story went viral after he was tripped up by a Hungarian camerawoman on the Hungarian-Serbian border as he ran with his seven-year-old son. <\/p>\n

Khalaf is also writing a TV series entitled The Syrian Doctor<\/em> about a medic arrested and tortured in 2012 for treating pro-democracy protestors who flees to France with his three-year-old daughter. When the regime falls, he wants to return to Syria but faces opposition from his now 15-year-old daughter, who now sees herself as culturally French. <\/p>\n

The aim is to shoot Love 45<\/em> in Lebanon in early 2026 if the political situation permits. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe will assess the situation closer to pre-production,\u201d said Vaillant.<\/p>\n

Syrian-French Director Unveils Post-Assad Tennis Drama \u2018Love 45\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the vibrant world of international cinema, the intersection of culture, politics, and personal narratives often leads to compelling storytelling. Such is the case with \u201cLove 45,\u201d the latest project from Syrian-French director, Rida Auda, who has garnered attention for his unique ability to spotlight the human experiences that emerge from tumultuous socio-political landscapes. This film, set against the backdrop of a post-Assad Syria, is not just a drama about tennis; it\u2019s a reflection on resilience, love, and the pursuit of dreams amid chaos.<\/p>\n

\u201cLove 45\u201d is a deeply personal project for Auda, who has been vocal about how his own experiences as a Syrian expatriate inform his work. The film centers on the unlikely friendship between a talented young Syrian tennis player and a former French champion who is trying to find peace after the recent turmoil of his own country. Their bond is forged on the tennis court but transcends sports, delving into themes of identity, belonging, and the healing power of human connection.<\/p>\n

Set in a fledgling Syrian locale where sports courts have become places of solace and community rebuilding, \u201cLove 45\u201d paints a picture of a country in transition. Tennis, often viewed as a game of privilege and elite competition, is used as a vehicle for exploring larger themes surrounding class, gender, and societal division. It serves as a powerful metaphor for the characters\u2019 struggle to reclaim personal agency in a society still grappling with the consequences of civil strife.<\/p>\n

The film\u2019s title, \u201cLove 45,\u201d refers to the unique scoring system in tennis, where the term ‘love’ signifies a score of zero and 45 represents a point right before winning the game. This clever play on words encapsulates the dualities present within the narrative\u2014hope versus despair, victory versus defeat. It sets the stage for viewers to engage with characters caught between their aspirations and harsh realities.<\/p>\n

Auda elaborates on the importance of tennis in the film, stating, \u201cTennis is a game that reflects life in many ways. It encapsulates both individuality and teamwork. In \u2018Love 45,\u2019 the tennis court becomes a microcosm of post-revolutionary Syria, where players must navigate personal challenges while striving for a shared goal.\u201d This philosophy is evident as the film unfolds through tense matches that serve as both literal and metaphorical battlegrounds for its characters.<\/p>\n

The casting of \u201cLove 45\u201d also reflects Auda\u2019s commitment to authenticity. The film stars rising Syrian actor Omar Al-Sharif, who embodies the young athlete navigating his dreams while wrestling with the emotional scars of his past. Al-Sharif\u2019s nuanced performance captures the internal conflict of a young man trying to balance the expectations of his family and society against his desire for self-actualization. Joining him is seasoned French actor, Marie Delaunay, who portrays the former champion, adding a layer of complexity to the narrative as her character battles her own demons. Their on-screen chemistry brings to life the emotional and psychological trials that connect the two protagonists despite their vastly different backgrounds.<\/p>\n

\u201cLove 45\u201d has gained international recognition and accolades since its premier screening at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Critics have lauded Auda\u2019s directorial vision and the film\u2019s ability to balance poignant storytelling with the tension of competitive sports. Journalists have described the film as a \u201ccathartic journey\u201d that presents a heartfelt exploration of healing and hope in a fractured world.<\/p>\n

Auda\u2019s intent is not merely to entertain but to inspire conversations about resilience and the resilience of the human spirit. He has been adamant about the need for films like \u201cLove 45\u201d in offering a voice to underrepresented narratives. \u201cIn an age where stories can either divide or unite, I want \u2018Love 45\u2019 to connect people,\u201d he remarks. \u201cIt\u2019s my hope that audiences will see the parallels between their own struggles and those of our characters, regardless of their geographic or cultural backgrounds.\u201d<\/p>\n

Studying the intersection of politics and art, \u201cLove 45\u201d serves as an essential reminder of what it means to pursue one’s passions in the most challenging environments. It showcases the importance of community and how shared experiences\u2014like the thrill of a tennis match\u2014can foster unity and healing.<\/p>\n

As the world continues to grapple with political upheaval, displacement, and ongoing conflicts, Rida Auda\u2019s \u201cLove 45\u201d stands out as a testament to the power of storytelling. Through its exploration of tennis not just as a sport but as a medium for connection, it brings forth a narrative that is both universally relatable and distinctly Syrian. With its deep themes and skilled execution, Auda\u2019s film may just inspire audiences to dream beyond the confines of their circumstances, urging them to seek recovery and connection in every aspect of their lives.<\/p>\n

Syrian-French director Philippe Aractingi has introduced his latest film, “Love 45,” which explores the complexities of life in Syria following the Assad regime. Set against the backdrop of a post-war landscape, the story intertwines themes of love, loss, and resilience through the lens of tennis\u2014a sport that symbolizes both competition and camaraderie.<\/p>\n

The narrative revolves around characters who navigate their relationships amidst political turmoil and societal change. By using tennis as a metaphor, Aractingi highlights the struggle for personal freedom and the pursuit of happiness in a country marked by conflict. The film features a blend of local talent and international actors, showcasing the diverse perspectives that shape modern Syrian identity.<\/p>\n

“Love 45” has garnered attention for its unique approach to storytelling, emphasizing human connection in the face of adversity. The director hopes that the film will resonate with audiences globally, encouraging a deeper understanding of the Syrian experience and the enduring spirit of its people. As it prepares for its release, anticipation builds for how this poignant drama will contribute to the ongoing conversation about post-conflict narratives and cultural expression.<\/p>\n

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What themes do Anas Khalaf and Rana Kazkaz explore in their films, particularly regarding the Syrian conflict? How does the film ‘Love 45’ differ in tone and message compared to ‘The Translator’? What personal experiences influenced Khalaf\u2019s storytelling in his new project? How does Khalaf hope to portray the characters\u2019 journeys in the context of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":110274,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-116938","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mazagine"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116938","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=116938"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116938\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/110274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=116938"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=116938"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=116938"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}