The series "Defensive Wall", directed by Ahmad Kavoosi, offers a fresh look at the challenges faced by oil workers in 1950 and their struggles against British companies. This series, centered around ordinary and non-political characters, aims to depict the social conditions of that era from the perspective of ordinary people.
A human-centered narrative of history
Ahmad Kavoosi, regarding the choice of a human angle for the story, said: "From the very beginning, the structure of the story and screenplay was based on this, and we started to strengthen this perspective accordingly." He believes that ordinary characters can help achieve a better understanding of society and its problems. The director emphasized that the characters in this story are fictional and do not require historical documentation, allowing the writer to create freely.
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Football; a symbol of workers' struggle
Kavoosi further referred to the use of football as a symbol for workers' struggle, stating: "Workers cannot demand their rights through force and their political-social status, but they express their protest through football." He added: "In this story, football acts as a symbolic means to express the social and political problems of that time." The director also pointed to the challenges faced by workers against oil companies and corrupt officials, stating that this story provides an overall view of the situation at that time to the audience.
Avoiding slogans
In response to a question about avoiding slogans in the series, Kavoosi stated: "We see the dominance of the British, their control over people, and their oppression in the images, and we have refrained from directly stating these issues." He mentioned that in this story, individuals merely express their views on existing problems, avoiding the presentation of slogan-like topics.
Suspense and story broadcasting
Kavoosi explained about creating suspense in the story and new changes in the broadcasting schedule of the networks, stating that broadcasting every other day or once a week does not affect how the audience follows it. He said: "If a series is among the audience's options, they will follow it, and this change allows the series to be broadcast for three months, making it easier for viewers to follow it."
The narrative of resistance and reclaiming rights
Kavoosi concluded by referring to the challenges faced by oil workers and issues such as independence and national resources, stating: "Our foundation is not to narrate a visual history, but we have come to tell a story." He added: "If the story and narrative have a contemporary relevance, it can speak from today" and pointed to issues related to the resistance and reclamation of people's rights in visual form. According to him, this story is essentially a response to the plundering of national wealth and foreign domination that still exists in society.
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