Inside Egyptian Director Tara Shehata’s Latest Short ‘Lewahdena’

‘Lewahdena’ (Alone With You), an Egyptian short film directed by Tara Shehata, has been accepted for the 60th Chicago International Film Festival, an Oscar-qualifying event where it will have its world premiere at the end of October. Additionally, the film has been selected for the BAFTA and BIFA-qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival in the UK.

Set in Egypt but predominantly in English, the film features Amir El-Masry and Tamima Hafez as Karim and Nadine, a couple who secretly meet in Nadine’s family apartment. Their plans are disrupted when her parents unexpectedly return, forcing them to quickly cover their tracks.

The film delves into the complexities of secret relationships and the societal taboos that accompany them in contemporary Egyptian society. It presents a modern-day portrayal of a couple grappling with the constraints imposed by a conservative culture. As Karim and Nadine navigate their clandestine romance, the film explores how societal expectations and the pressure to conform create a web of secrecy and tension.

This dynamic reflects the challenges faced by many couples in Egypt who must balance their personal desires with the expectations of a society that often scrutinises and judges non-traditional relationships.

The decision to use English, despite the film’s Egyptian setting, was driven by narrative needs. “The film is not aimed at mass appeal,” Tara Shehata tells CairoScene. “Karim’s background and Nadine’s Westernised demeanour make English a fitting choice to reflect their detachment from Egyptian society. Arabic is used in the film when things start to get serious. I wanted to explore how a couple can live in secrecy… Being a couple that’s unmarried in Egypt comes with a lot of secrets.”

On the film's acceptance at film festivals, Shehata expresses her pride, saying, “Whenever you make a short film, there’s always a risk that it’ll end up on your computer unseen by anyone but yourself and the crew.”

In describing her role as Nadine, Tamima Hafez talks about how her character reflects a common struggle in Egyptian society. “This character represents a struggle most Egyptians go through,” Hafez tells CairoScene. “Preparing for it was easy because putting myself in her shoes, metaphorically, was not difficult. We’ve all faced romantic relationships challenged by societal norms, so I tapped into my inner traumas. My character is madly in love but constantly anxious about what comes next. I am also an anxious person, and the struggle portrayed in the film resonates deeply with me.”

The dynamic between Hafez’s Nadine and El-Masry’s Karim explores the pressures of societal expectations on modern relationships. “They are typical lovebirds stuck in a situation not of their choosing,” Hafez explains. “They want a normal relationship but face constant societal scrutiny. Amir and I, having been friends for years, naturally connected. We didn’t need formalities to break the ice, which made the process smooth.”

Both Shehata and Hafez hope the film will resonate with Egyptian and international audiences alike. “I hope the Egyptian audience has a little less of a judgemental reaction, and more of a heartfelt reaction. I just hope these characters aren’t judged,” Shehata says.

“Internationally, I hope viewers understand this struggle, which is often absent in other societies,” Hafez adds.

Tara Shehata previously directed ‘The Shadow of Cairo’, a film that had been selected at Oscar qualifying New York International Children’s Film Festival, where it was a finalist for the Jury Award. Earlier in 2024, Amir El-Masry’s film ‘See It Say It’ was featured at the SXSW Film Festival, and his latest work, ‘In Camera’, is slated for release on September 13th in the UK, Europe and Ireland. Tamima Hafez is known for her roles in the 2022 Shahid series ‘Mon’ataf Khattar’ and the 2021 series ‘Hagma Mortada’.