Italian
A journey through ‘700 Days in Homs’: A tale of resilience and hope
A film student’s struggle in a war-torn city
In the heart of the besieged city of Homs, a film student finds himself trapped by Syrian government troops. This harrowing experience forms the basis of “700 Days in Homs”, a project currently under development by Germany’s Hakim + König Film. Co-directed by Sulaiman Tadmory and Ali Hakim, the film promises to be a gripping portrayal of survival and resilience.
The story behind the film
Inspired by Tadmory’s real-life ordeal, “700 Days in Homs” aims to capture the relentless terror and the indomitable spirit of the city’s young residents. Tadmory reflects, “I’ve lived through the relentless terror of bombings in Homs, where fear and destruction were omnipresent. This film captures the profound resilience and solidarity of young residents amidst the chaos, shifting the narrative from despair to hope. It aims to amplify their voices and inspire global awareness, a testament to the unyielding spirit of the Syrian people.”
A collaboration of visionaries
Tadmory, a journalist turned filmmaker, will co-write and co-direct the film with Hakim. Hakim’s feature debut, “Bonnie & Bonnie”, was showcased at the Hamburg Film Festival in 2019. Together, they spearhead the development slate at Hakim + König Film, an emergent production company aiming to tap into the “pop arthouse” sector both in Germany and internationally.
Aiming for a broad audience
Hakim’s vision for the company is clear: “We don’t want to make films for a thousand people in cinemas. We want to be in the big cineplex with our films. It’s also important to us to have diverse and universal stories and not have projects that only work in Germany, a smaller market with fewer funding opportunities.”
This desire to create films with wide appeal led Hakim to focus on “700 Days in Homs” amidst the company’s growing development portfolio. “It’s our challenge to find something to touch people that is also entertaining. People want more than superhero stories and, with a good team and a good story, you can still entertain people with an arthouse film.”
Inspirations and narrative style
Currently working on a second draft of the script, Hakim cites major inspirations for the film, including Marc Webb’s “500 Days of Summer” and Christopher Nolan’s “Memento”. “We thought about ‘500 Days of Summer’ because of the anachronistic way of telling the story. When I first heard Sulaiman tell his tale, he would go from the future to the past, from one point to the other in a non-linear way because this is how the human brain works. I want to replicate this with our film and also have something a bit more daring like Nolan did with ‘Memento’.”
Building connections and learning from the best
Hakim is one of 36 young producers selected for the tenth edition of Match Me!, a prestigious networking platform for emerging producers. Commenting on his expectations, Hakim says, “I am thinking long term so I can forge relationships with people who know they can trust me in the future. I want to learn from more experienced producers and understand how they get projects off the ground in other countries. How do people finance their films? How are they engaging with new technology?”
Embracing technology in filmmaking
Technology plays a significant role in Hakim’s creative process. “The first thing I do before writing a project is create a poster. I want to imagine the film playing at a cinema. Then I start listening to music and building images with AI from certain references. I’m a very visual writer.”
Hakim is also exploring the potential of AI in various aspects of filmmaking. “Before fighting against a new technology, I try thinking about how I can use it to make my stories better. When I write a script, it usually takes me four days to work on a breakdown. Chat GPT can do it in two hours.”
The producer is also considering AI for dubbing and creating subtitles. “I’m heading to a conference about AI subtitling in Berlin next September, and this would expand our territories exponentially. We are thinking internationally here.”
A new era of storytelling
“700 Days in Homs” is not just a film; it’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit amidst unimaginable adversity. As cinema and TV series enthusiasts, we are often drawn to stories that reflect the complexities of the human experience. This film promises to be a poignant reminder of the power of hope and solidarity in the face of overwhelming odds.
For those eager to delve deeper into the narrative, you can watch the trailer here.
In the ever-evolving landscape of cinema, projects like “700 Days in Homs” remind us of the profound impact that storytelling can have on our understanding of the world and our place within it.
