It's one of the most arresting movies showing at Bangkok's World Film Festival this week. A simple domestic drama about a very-much-in-love Arab-German couple whose marriage changes after 9/11, "Seeds of Doubt" creates a big impact with its authenticity of tone and depth of performance.

It's the directorial debut of Berlin-born Samir Nasr, winning him two awards at the Cairo Film Festival where it premiered, before going on to create waves at festivals around the world.

The Arab-German director, who believes in socially relevant films, already has his next script ready, a drama set in a prison. It should fulfil his dream of making a film in Egypt, he told the writer at the Cairo Film Festival.

Tell us about your background.

I was born in Berlin, to an Egyptian father and German mother. I moved to Cairo when I was 11 years old and I wanted to understand my roots and culture. I later returned to Germany for my studies.

How did you develop a love for films?

I was always obsessed with cinema, I read a lot of film books and wrote many essays on cinema. I loved filmmakers like Costas Gavras, whose films made an impact on society. I'm also a great admirer of [Alfred] Hitchcock, and "Seeds of Doubt" is based on the structure of "Suspicion" and many shots of "North by Northwest".

Did you train in cinema?

I wanted to join the Munich Film School but was refused admission. After a diploma in business, I started working as a projectionist in a cinema hall at Mannheim, which was great!

Soon after, I joined a new film school at Ludwigsborg, near Stuttgart, which has now developed a great reputation.

Is it true that your student films went to many festivals?

Yes. I did a short film "Bread", which went to Locarno [in Switzerland] and other festivals. My graduation film "Service Station" went to nearly 20 film festivals, got distribution, and later won the First Step Award for newcomers from the Academy of Arts in Germany. I later did two documentaries, one on the police, which created a stir when it was shown on TV, and one on teenagers, based on a teen-massacre in the country.

How true is the "Seeds of Doubt" story, after 9/11?

Very true. I must admit that life has changed for the Muslim community after 9/11. In fact, when I left my flat in Berlin to shoot this film, my neighbours wanted to know what I was up to! In Cologne airport, I put my bag down briefly but by the time I had returned, it was gone, confiscated. It's not easy dealing with people who look strangely at you, and that's what I portray in the film. I had never experienced racism in the film community before, but four German festivals which had screened my earlier movies, rejected this film.

Look at the violence that has erupted in Cairo, one of the safest cities in the world. Freedom has become fake everywhere, even in America.

How did you find the extremely talented pair who play the leads in the film?

It wasn't easy. I saw the male actor in a short film and decided he was the one. The girl was very difficult and I did eight to 10 castings every day before I found the right one. She had done stage and TV and seemed unremarkable, but she has magic when the camera is turned on! She's in great demand now after this film.

Your ending is not exactly happy?

Not at all. There's a wall of separation between them. And that's why I show them standing on top of a hill. It's symbolic. The music is sad in the background. The music plays an important role in the film and it won an award at the Cairo festival.

How close do you feel to Egypt?

Very close. And I long to make a film here. Right from childhood, I've longed to do something for Egypt. Hopefully my next film set here will create the impact I want.

"Seeds Of Doubt" will be screened on Friday at 5.50pm and Saturday at 3.30 at Major Cineplex Central World Plaza 4.

Lekha J Shankar

Special to The Nation