Director Shamira Raphaëla On Reshaping Film Through A Lens Of Compassion
Director and filmmaker Shamira Raphaëla has been making a name for herself as a leading figure in the Netherlands, redefining the landscape of documentary and fictional narratives. Intent on filling in the voids of stories that go untold and disrupting the narrow lens of stigmatised ethnic and marginalised groups, Raphaëla is reaching the UK audience with her recent masterpiece 'Shabu'. Created as a documentary film, 'Shabu' captures the life of a 14 year old boy spending the summer trying to make money to pay back his Grandmother for the damage he caused to her car. Centered around the environment of his home in Rotterdam’s De Peperklip estate, 'Shabu' is a cinematic coming of age story created in celebration of Black joy and depicting the narratives of the Caribbean diaspora, particularly the Surinamese culture of Shabu and his family.
We had the opportunity to sit down with Shamira and discuss the process of filming such an up close, personal documentary, influenced by her own upbringing and connection to the Caribbean. We hear how Shamira's own path from reality TV to fiction has allowed her to grow as a director and the impact she hopes her work will have on shaping the landscape of film for future generations.
Having grown up in Aruba with her Dutch mother and Curaçao father, Shamira's lens is one finely tuned to the dynamics of diaspora culture. Combining her personal knowledge with a deep respect for the lives of those she captures on screen, it's obvious how aware and responsible Shamira feels for stories to be told in an honest and carefully curated fashion. She tells us how she's consciously looking for the voids that exist within the mediums landscape and filling in the gaps, particularly in regards to the Caribbean diaspora. She highlights how "There's such a danger if we only tell a singular story because then everyone believes that's the only story that's out there and then the people who are portrayed will start seeing themselves through that lens. To combat that we need more normalcy on screen."
“There’s such a danger if we only tell a singular story…To combat that we need more normalcy on screen
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Through this perspective, and with a portfolio of hard hitting, provocative documentaries under her belt, Shamira's decision to film 'Shabu' came at a moment when she was in search of a more light, joyful narrative. Coinciding with the death of her father, Shamira expresses how connecting with Shabu and his family had a really positive impact on her, "it was such a warm feeling of being embraced by Shabu and his family, receiving so much love which is something I hadn't experienced before when filming documentaries. They made me feel very welcome and safe". This emotive tone is one that shines through the film, reflecting the mutual care and consideration between Shamira and Shabu's close community.
“I’m influenced by looking at the archive of film and seeing what’s lacking.. then I try to fill in those voids so future generations can create freely
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It's perhaps thanks to this organic, warm connection between subject and filmmaker that a unique and powerful cinematic story unfolds. The most noticeable element is the almost script-like nature of the narrative where conversational scenes and emotional dynamics seamlessly come together creating a heightened sense of drama and stylised magic. This is something that Shamira thanks her experience in reality TV and documentary for. "I learnt a lot. People look down on reality TV but it's a really good playing field to be a quick director, to read emotions and how to steer people". It's through this eye that Shamira was able to develop her work and, with the money she earnt in reality TV, finance her first documentary "which opened the door into a different world". Considering the trajectory Shamira's journey took from studying audio and visual art in University followed by a rejection from film school a few years later, to becoming a leading figure in film within the Netherlands is deeply admirable, particularly when recognising the impact 'Shabu' has had on the industry as a whole. She tells us how "in the Netherlands, I feel there's a new wave coming, I feel there's more focus on feel good... The success of this film made people realise they can serve the public something else." Of itself this is a huge achievement, creating a ripple effect amongst fellow directors to focus on narratives that shine a light on the global spectrum of humanism.
“ People find it difficult to step into another person’s shoes....but for people to accept each other we need to be able to look at the world from a place of love instead of hate
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When discussing Shamira's eye for observation, she tells us how it's something she's had since she was a child. "I was always aware of there being different worlds and that these worlds aren't always connected even when we share the same space." Reflecting on her own family, she tells us how "I'm from a low socioeconomic background and so I'd feel the judgement from the outside but I also felt the love from the inside. And so, since I was a child, I always wanted to be a bridge between the different worlds, to show reality through different eyes". This motivation to evoke stories of compassion is a common thread in Shamira's work, particularly her project 'Our Motherland' in which she spent four years face to face with an extreme right wing, former neo Nazi "who's the most racist person you could ever imagine and my enemy but I found it interesting to see if I could confront that fear and humanise him as a person", challenging herself to see new perspectives. This brave and unintimidated project led to Shamira almost getting cancelled online "because people find it difficult to step into another person's shoes....but for people to accept each other we need to be able to look at the world from a place of love instead of hate". This sensibility is something that makes Shamira stand out for being both unapologetic and deeply responsible in her creations for social change.
“ It’s always my own experiences mixed with the view of the world
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Having been in the documentary world for 8 years, Shamira tells us its time for her to move on to fiction. However, for her "it's all the same craft, it's all storytelling with the same toolbox but using different tools". Despite the similarity, Shamira is conscious that every project has its own style. She tells us how "none of my films are the same and for me. 'Shabu' was a big experiment. I didn't know if it would come across the way I had in my mind. It was a big step for me in finding a different kind of autograph in relation to my directing" leading to "a transition for me in my career towards more fiction". This has resulted in Shamira's most recent work directing a fictional series about female rage; giving women space to be angry in opposition to gendered narratives commonly depicted. "Females in our society and film are supposed to be sweet and kind. But with this series, which is about a girl who gets sexually exposed and then takes revenge, I wanted to create a space for girls to fantasize about bloody revenge", reflecting Shamira's ability to provoke game changing narratives.
As we eagerly await this new series, one thing's for sure, whatever the project, Shamira will be inspiring her audience to look up and out from a fresh perspective, creating a new level of compassion along the way.
Interview & Words: Bethany Burgoyne
Photography: Ciaran Christopher
