Mojtaba Pourabdollah, the director of the short film 'Europe', aims to address the issue of child migration from a human and profound perspective. This film is based on Pourabdollah's personal experiences and his encounters with working children, focusing on the dreams of a little girl whose life has been affected by migration.
Inspired by a Child Worker
In his discussions about the initial idea of the film, Pourabdollah mentioned that while working on a documentary, he encountered a boy who was working as a child laborer. This child told him that he started school a year late due to his family's efforts to migrate. This statement had a profound impact on Pourabdollah and led to the formation of the idea for 'Europe'.
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He pointed out that during his own childhood, he also had imaginations and fantasies about migration that may not have aligned with reality. He believes that the issue of migration is one of the prominent topics in today's social life in Iran, and the exaggerated perceptions that form in people's minds, especially children, can lead to the development of an unrealistic mindset.
Uncertain Geography, Clear Concept
The film 'Europe' was shot in the Siyahkal and Dilman regions and does not specify the geography of the migration destination. Pourabdollah explains that his goal was more to focus on the concept of migration and its social consequences. To better understand the conditions of those who intend to cross borders, he spent some time at the Razai border between Iran and Turkey and spoke with individuals attempting to migrate.
This director added that although the film is not related to a specific geography, its idea is based on real experiences of migration and crossing borders. These experiences helped him narrate a true and human story from the perspective of a child.
Choosing the Actor and Searching for Truth
The selection of the actor for the role of Raha, the little girl around whom the story revolves, was done in a special manner. Pourabdollah became acquainted with the actress during a period when he visited the border region. He noted that this actress was familiar with the concept of migration and her life had been affected by this phenomenon. This familiarity helped shape the character of Raha.
Ultimately, Pourabdollah pointed out that many cinematic works in Iran have addressed the issue of migration, but he has tried to approach this topic from his own perspective and based on his personal experiences. He believes that migration is one of the fundamental concerns of our society, which is why he has focused on it.
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