Happiness is Like Sand

by Gaëlle Azzam

National Institute of Image and Sound (INIS), Canada

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Synopsis

Samira is the 35 year-old Lebanese caregiver to Rose, 81, who is paralyzed and unable to speak. They share a complicit happiness. One morning, Samira finds that Rose has died. She fears losing everything: Rose, her home, her routine and her job. She panics and falls into a phase of denial and disconnection from reality. 

Director's biography

Gaëlle Azzam est diplômée de l'Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth, ou elle réalise, écrit et monte “ Elpide ” son premier film en 2018 . Elle poursuit aujourd’hui ardemment sa passion de réalisatrice. Diplômée de l’INIS du programme cinéma - Réalisation en 2022 , elle continue à consacrer sa carrière à la réalisation ou elle espère créer des films d’auteur pour voir sa vision du monde et ses complexités prendre vie.

Gaëlle Azzam holds a degree from Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth, where she wrote, directed and edited her first film, Elpide, in 2018. She now concentrates on her passion: directing. She completed her diploma in film direction at INIS in 2022 and continues to focus on directing with the intention of creating films d’auteur that bring to life her vision of the world and its complexities.

Credits

Director: Gaëlle Azzam

Screenplay: Émile Vigneault

Cinematography: Xavier Bossé

Editing: Patrick Demers

Music: Sami Basbous

Sound design: Ramzi Madi

Specifications

Original title: Le bonheur est comme du sable

Running time: 14'

Film type: Fiction

Country: Canada

Completion date: October 2022