Photo courtesy of Ann Shin
Ann Shin’s op doc, My Enemy, My Brother, is a story about Zahed and Najah, two former enemies in the Iraq and Iran war. After Zahed found Najah injured in a bunker during a raid, he risked his own life to save him. Years after the separation, both men miraculously found each other in Vancouver, Canada. Chosen to be a part of TIFF’s Canada’s top 10, the short documentary will be playing at the Cinemateque (Jan. 13, 7 p.m.).
“I was inspired by how these two regular guys, young guys, in one moment of bravery, managed to save another person’s life. It’s a real brave, heartening, positive story coming out of the Middle East. You rarely hear positive stories coming out of the Middle East,” says Shin.
A road to the Oscars
Ann Shin. | Photo courtesy of Ann Shin
Shin grew up in Langley on a mushroom farm, and attended Mountain Secondary High School. She later moved to the East Coast, where she graduated in English Literature from the University of Toronto and had her first experience in documentary film making while working as an intern for CBC radio. Shin’s hard work seems to have paid off: Jan. 14, Fathom film group will find out ifMy Enemy, My Brother has made it to the Academy Awards nomination list.
“It screened in Toronto, L.A, San Francisco, New York, and a number of other places. Once the Oscar campaign is over, the website will revert back to the web series,” says Shin.
The filmmaker is not only excited about the potential nomination, but the feedback she’s been receiving around the world.
“We’ve had a lot of feedback from veterans, who were really moved and have been inspired by the story. We’ve had a lot of feedback from the diasporic Iranian and Iraqi communities in L.A, Vancouver, Toronto and New York,” says Shin.
Web series
Shin found a narrative in the story, which surpassed the movie length the company was commissioned to produce. The web series will keep the audience up to date with the lives of Zahed and Najah. A few months ago there were developments in Zahed’s story after he went bankrupt.
“I’m based in Toronto. When Zahed ended up in the hospital for surgery, I couldn’t get there in time, but one of the unit directors was there to film it,” says Shin.
According to her, there’s been interesting developments in Najah’s search for his son and wife in Iraq.
“It’s an ongoing process. We’ll be going to Iraq soon with Najah because he’s got his Canadian passport and Canadian citizenship this year. He’s finally eligible to go back to Iraq safely,” says Shin.
Iraq shoot
Photo courtesy of Ann Shin
This January, Shin and the production crew will shoot a portion of the series in Iraq. The team will follow Najah as he becomes reacquainted with the country and his family. The director is concerned with questions like whether or not she will have to wear a hijab.
“What’s the most respectful thing to do? And how do I do this safely?” says Shin, since the production company will not be filming undercover, as she did in North Korea for the film, The Defectors.
Although Najah is able to fly back to his country of birth, Zahed has no immediate plans to travel back to Iran. However, Najah is determined to see his family.
“They’re the only reason I’m going,” says Najah.
According to Shin it’s a different kind of safety concern going to Iraq.
“In my previous documentary, I followed a group of defectors and their broker, [and] their smuggler in North Korea, ferrying them across the country. That was at times nerve-racking, but we made it out safely. As a filmmaker, you’re in that situation with them,” says Shin.
The short documentary can be seen at www.myenemymybrothermovie.com
