Our Males and Females is a short film about a mother and father faced with the painful task of washing and shrouding their deceased transgender daughter. Shrouding is an Islamic religious practice that is deemed obligatory to carry out upon death. We spoke with Ahmad Alyaseer, the director, to discuss the behind-the-scenes of the film in more detail.
What inspired you to make this film?
Imagine you live in a society where no one accepts you for who you are, even after your death. One night in February 2021, my sister, Rana, and I met Bousi, a transgender woman from the Arab region. Upon meeting, we wrote this script. Her story stood out to us and was extremely touching. Bousi spent her entire life seeking approval and acceptance from her family, friends, and wider community. Even though she received legal approval to transition, she was never able to obtain official gender recognition, which increased her vulnerability to systemic discrimination. We wondered what would happen to a transgender person upon their death. Would the discrimination and nonacceptance still prevail?
How did you cast this film?
I had previously worked on a television series with Shafiqa Al Tal, who plays the role of the mother, and I had fallen in love with her personality, both in real life and on screen. She has a very interesting face, and when we wrote the screenplay, with my sister, we only envisioned her in this role. As for Kamel El Basha, I saw him in The Insult, a Lebanese film, and I immediately knew that he would be perfect to play in our film. I talked to him, and he really loved the script. I’m very lucky that they both worked on the film. They definitely pushed it to the next level with her moving performances.
The content of the film is heavy. What was the atmosphere like on set during the shoot?
We filmed Our Males and Females during the winter, braving the intense cold in a remote and abandoned area. The tight schedule allowed us only two days for shooting, demanding efficiency and precision. Since the film was fully self-funded, most of the crew graciously volunteered because they were deeply moved by the script. This created a fantastic atmosphere on set, with everyone radiating enthusiasm and excitement to witness the final outcome. One particularly memorable moment was during the filming of the montage sequence at the end of the film. While filming, we played the music in the background and the camera glided smoothly, and when we completed filming the sequence. The emotions overwhelmed the crew members, leading to tears, cheers, and applause—a beautiful mix of heartfelt emotions that solidified our connection to the project.
How did you make sure the story was authentic to the experience of Muslim transgender people?
Being part of the film scene in Jordan, I frequently encounter individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community and listen to their poignant stories. However, during the development stage of Our Males and Females, my sister and I took an active approach. We engaged in conversations and meetings with tens of transgender people from the region, attentively hearing their personal stories and struggles. These encounters profoundly influenced our understanding and portrayal of the characters and themes in the film, enriching our narrative with authentic and heartfelt experiences from the transgender community.
How has a Muslim audience responded to this film?
Audiences interpret the film differently, and that’s where its beauty lies—viewers perceive it based on their individual beliefs. Although we haven’t had a screening for the film in the Middle East/North African region yet, the private screenings we held received high praise for its bravery and powerful message. These screenings allowed us to witness firsthand how Our Males and Females resonated with people regardless of their belief and religion, sparking important discussions and leaving a lasting impact on those who experienced its emotional journey.
Our Males and Females will be playing in the opening block ‘Displaced’ on 15th September at 9am. Ahmad Alyaseer is one this year’s award nominees in the Best Director category.
If you wish to attend the festival, tickets are available here
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