We are sitting together on the couch and laughing a lot. Raghda is a friend of mine. But now, in this moment, she is a photographer and a film maker who I’m interviewing. Her passion is documentaries, in which she likes to use archive material. I love her work. Once, I saw a documentary by her, filmed in Cairo. I felt as if I was there, sitting in the taxi and looking outside. Seeing the traffic, hearing the people chatting and the energetic honking of cars.
Since October 2023, Raghda is studying Editing at the Film University Babelsberg – one of the best known universities for film in Germany. In the interview, we talk about her work, her fears and about mutual support.
What has been the favorite documentary you've worked on so far? In Cairo, I worked on a documentary about my mother's relationship with my father. It's about how they met, why she was in that relationship and the circumstances surrounding her. At the same time, I bring my own perspective on relationships to the movie, as I am the person asking her the questions. So, it's also about how relationships change over time. I hope that one day I will able to finish it. But I don't know if I'll have the chance because now, I’m living in Germany, and she still lives in Cairo.
What do you find interesting about relationships? It's a human thing. You need relationships. In general, you need friends, you need people around you, even if they're not close to you. I find it interesting to see how people communicate with each other, how they act and react, and to capture that on film.
Why did you specialize in documentary films? For me, documentaries are very intimate. They are so real. In my opinion, real stories are more intense than fiction. They convey so many true feelings and emotions. If the story touches me and I can connect with it, I can tell it with all my heart.
What are your favorite films? Do you have any recommendations? One of my favorite films is "Salut les Cubains" from 1963, a documentary about the Cuban revolution. The montage of the film is amazing. The director Agnès Varda has created a movie from over 1500 photos. Another movie that I really like is "I travel because I have to" by Karim Aïnouz and Marcelo Gomes. It's about relationships and loneliness. The film footage records real moments, but at the same time the script is fictional.
What do you find difficult about your job? Also in the comparison between Germany and Egypt? At the moment, I haven't worked in Germany yet. So it's difficult for me to make a comparison. But my first impression is that it’s also important to have connections and to be part of an artistic community here. If you don't know many people, your chances of finding work are much lower. In Cairo, I shared a studio with editors and filmmakers. So, I had the opportunity to work with them.
What’s on your mind at the moment? I've only been in Germany for a short time. I haven't gotten used to the lifestyle here yet and I have a lot to do; take care of paperwork, find a part-time job and concentrate on my studies and so on. It's a big adjustment.
What helps you in such situations where you don't feel settled? It helps me to write down the thoughts that are bothering me. Because, if you just think it’s like playing squash in your head. Talking about it with someone or writing it down doesn't solve the problem, but it makes it calmer and helps me to find solutions.
On my blog, I explore the question of what we can do in difficult situations and how we can support each other. What do you think? What can we contribute to a just world? Actually, I don’t believe it will be better. I stopped believing that we can change the world. But I think we can concentrate on smaller acts like welcoming someone to our home, having a chat with someone, or caring about our environment. Paying attention to others and responding to their needs makes a big difference.
Thank you so much for the interview, Raghda!
See more of Raghda on her Instagram account, vimeo and behance.
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