Air
A meditation on the spirit of London as seen through the prism of its most trying time – the World War Two blitz.
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About Rahim: Rahim has worked in the film industry within numerous departments since he was seventeen. After completing a practical degree in film, Rahim graduated to go onto specialise in scriptwriting. Since 2005 he has been working as a freelance writer. He has had a series of poems and a graphic novel published and has written plays for both stage and radio. In 2008, he directed a short film, before starting to work with Tiga Kali Studio on a series of shorts. These have been screened at numerous international film festivals including the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the International Kurz Film Festival in Hamburg and Tribecca in New York, gathering numerous awards. He is currently in pre‐production on a short animation, working with Slurpy Studios, and has several other projects in development including a short documentary. To find out more about Rahim, please visit www.101projects.org
In Rahim’s words: “Born of a first generation in London, with my parents born and raised in Tanzania, the opportunity to work with archival footage that has shaped the city I love to this day really excited me. As I started to sift through the footage, I became amazed by the London at war clips and the immense bravery of the people within them. As I started to research more, I read that the World War Two Blitz was intended to break the morale of the British people; instead it brought them closer together.
With Air I intended to capture a sense of spirit amongst a city during a time of war and destruction, drawing a parallel to modern disasters such as the 7/7 London bombings of 2005. I intended to structure a film that would be a poetic and moving account of the nation as they prepare for a possible air raid, as they casually carry around their gas masks, walk briskly into shelters and nonchalantly prepare for the next attack as they are hear the bell signaling no more danger. With the London Underground running as a constant theme, I wanted to highlight the fear and panic that would be in the air whilst an attack may be about to happen or not happen, as the people wait silently in their bunkers, fearing the unknown as the city lays in desolation. Avoiding scenes of actual attacks and armed forces, ‘Air’ instead captures courage amongst civilians brought together by war with scenes of families, friends and strangers all helping each other. Whilst the music of ‘Air’ is made to convey emotion of the people’s spirit, the sound bites of a radio frequency and a plane overhead are intended to create a sense of the reality of the time, as well as to inspire hope for the future at the end.”
Tags: Competition, winner
