WRITTEN & Directed by Alexandre Laurent
Produced BY Maël Hajos
Jade opens up through a poem, sharing her story of an intense relationship with a former lover, marked by a toxic hold fuelled by stereotypes and the societal pressure to avoid being alone. Their breakup, far from being a tragic end, becomes a liberation a journey back to herself where solitude emerges as a soothing and healing remedy.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER
Zaeem Asad is a London-based filmmaker known for his compelling commercials and documentaries. Having directed over 60 commercials, mainly in food and beverages, he brings a sharp eye for storytelling. His passion lies in crafting authentic narratives, capturing the lives of real people who challenge societal norms, and exploring culture and creativity through film.
READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH ALEXANDRE
Welcome to our Short of the Week series. Tell us a bit about yourself and your filmmaking background.
I've been working in film for seven years now as a director/cinematographer. I was a first assistant for three years, then I became a director of photography by chance. This is my very first real project as a director, a subject that has been close to my heart for a long time.
Tell us about the genesis of Freedom to be alone and your motivation for making this film.
I have had various experiences in life, which have led me to a certain clarity about energies. In this short film, I tell the story through a poem about karmic bonds, using the image of a ball of yarn to symbolize these ties, interpreted with the sensitivity of a woman. I explore what can be resolved by emerging from these very powerful relationships.
The idea came to me while listening to music mainly, then there were the inspirations of directors that I followed like Théo le Sourd I like his work, but also the different experiences and revelations that I had during my filming, I had my vision like all directors of photography and I wanted to give a cinematographic interpretation to the story.
What were some of the main obstacles you experienced when making Freedom to be alone and how did you overcome them?
We had a small budget and had a lot of constraints, and then a lot of concessions, which allowed me to open my eyes to certain aspects of production. And the importance of having a team you can count on.
What advice or hacks would you give to other short filmmakers?
I advise the young director to give himself time to do things, even if there are many budgetary constraints, and then to have a trustworthy and competent team where communication reigns.
Any film recommendations that we should add to our watchlist?
- Baby Bright by Oscar Keys
- Sometimes / Wonder by Theo le sourd
What are you working on next?
Right now I'm working on a feature film called "The Lemon Life" I'm going to adapt it into a short film to approach production companies and then make a film
