Hawa: An elemental film by Mona Namér and Sanna Holm

Words by Jameela Elfaki

We are excited to share the online premier of Hawa. Hawa meaning (‘Air’ In Arabic) is an experimental short, Co-directed by Moroccan-Swedish dancer, choreographer and visual artist Mona Namér, and Director Sanna Holm.

This beautiful film, has so much to unpack. Through memories of identity and a longing for belonging, we follow a personal portrait of Mona on the Swedish island, Gotland. The film vividly visits these memories, guided by Mona’s Mothers narration. “Listen, Morocco runs through our veins” - her mother’s voice takes us back to Morocco; exploring nostalgic blues, the circle of community and the feeling of the half and whole and the divine connection of nature and mankind. We are taken on a visual and audio journey, like the fluttering fabric featured in the film, it flows seamlessly from symbolic scenes into expressive choreography and rhythms.

Mona:
”I’ve known Sanna since she was 15 when she used to take my dance classes back in our hometown Gothenburg. Over time we have become very close friends and creative partners, and it’s beautiful to see the growth in our artistic elements until today. She’s really that kind of person that I can ventilate everything on my mind to, and what I love about her is that she really listens in a very rare compassionate way despite us coming from two very different backgrounds - I believe that’s something I can see in her way of capturing me in photographs and her role in directing our film. 

‘Hawa’ was an idea that we started discussing while still living in Gothenburg around 2018 and we picked it up in a time where we had to create solutions due not making it to Morocco, which was the original idea. Past years we’ve had some deeply profound conversations regarding existence and identity and while creating ‘Hawa’ we wanted to explore the human dualities and my sense of double-identity. Not being able to film in Morocco brought up a lot of memories and over time these memories really became a huge part of telling the story cause it evoked this sense of longing. Including my mother Fatima in the project - who is the narrator of the film, has also been really special. When I asked her to record these memories I had been talking about with Sanna - her whole being lit up, I honestly haven't seen my mother so excited for years and her face when seeing the final result was priceless. Those are the moments I live for.”

The film effortlessly weaves between symbolic juxtapositions of light and dark, water and desert, life and stillness. We are reminded of the power of nature, and the cycles of life. Illustrated by the story of the Lake in Morocco that became a desert, we are reminded that nothing is permanent. The symbolic desert mirage of mirrors and Atay (Moroccan tea) is interrupted by explosive rhythms and movement and the cycle of life/earth starts again. The natural elements of Air, Earth and Water are highly present in this film, exuded through vivid hues, symbiotic movement, natural formations and immersive sound design capturing waves and water droplets. Through this film we are reminded of our own longing and dreams of our Motherlands and the sense of belonging that comes with it.

Stills from Hawa

Credits

A film by Sanna Holm, Mona Namér and Simon Bendroth

Director, Producer, Creative Director: @sanna.c.h 

Co-Director, Choreographer, Creative Director: @monanamer 

Director of Photography: @simonbendroth 

1st Assistant Camera: @zelmaschelin 

2nd Camera Assistant: @lucas_wallenberg 

Dancers: @nyatkibreab @marcolito @monanamer 

Production Assistant: @strinchie @m.simonic 

Editor: @simonbendroth 

Colorist: @thameralzaidi_colorist 

Music: @kechou_sound @lvdf.music @mariabrgstrm 

Composer, Sound designer and Master engineer: @mariabrgstrm 

Voice: Fatima Namér

BTS: @m.simonic 

Thanks to: MINI Sverige

Dagsljus / Stefan Kivrikis
Samsoe Samsoe

Lo von Krogh

Andrea Vasquez 

Supported by: City of Gothenburg Halland County KulturUngdom