RIYADH: In the realm of cinema, few stories resonate as deeply as those that explore the complexities of human relationships. Ahmed Al-Qithmi’s debut short film, “The Edge,” delves into the intricacies of a troubled marriage between protagonists Sultan and Haneen, capturing the emotional turbulence that often accompanies love.
Selected as part of the New Saudi/New Cinema (Shorts) lineup at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Al-Qithmi shared insights on character development, thematic exploration, and the challenges of filmmaking.
At the heart of the seven-minute short are characters that Al-Qithmi believes reflect the trials of many couples. “The story draws on common themes that resonate with many marital experiences,” he explained. “Everyone either goes through these situations or knows someone who has.”
The film emphasizes the importance of being emotionally available and effective communication in relationships, and Al-Qithmi confronts other, often taboo, issues.
“I addressed various matrimonial issues in the film, such as neglect and lack of interest during critical moments. Additionally, I aimed to highlight more severe experiences, including domestic violence,” he explained.
“Sultan’s character underwent significant evolution throughout the writing process,” Al-Qithmi said of his lead character, who is played by actor Khalid Yaseen.
“Initially, he resembled my personality closely, however, as we continued, we developed an independent persona for Sultan. This involved thoroughly exploring his social background, including a complete family structure with details about his siblings, ages, reasons for his marriage, and hobbies and interests.”
Haneen’s character was equally meticulously developed. Al-Qithmi spoke with various women to shape her personality, finding insights that would resonate with audiences before he sat down with actress Rand Al-Qusaybi to round out the role.
Al-Qusaybi’s “background in psychology aided our portrayal of Haneen,” the director said. “Interestingly, after our research, we found that Haneen’s personality was quite the opposite of Rand Al-Qusaybi’s. This contrast allowed us to create a compelling dynamic that showcased a different facet of the actress’ talent.”
One of the film’s central messages is the importance of honest communication in relationships. Al-Qithmi hopes audiences will take away the understanding that “a successful relationship requires honest communication between spouses … We should start speaking transparently with our partners rather than expect them to understand us through our reactions.”
Visually, Al-Qithmi used warm tones to enhance emotional intensity, and handheld camera movements during conflicts serve to amplify the tension, vividly illustrating the couple’s struggles.
“I chose a German-inspired style for filming because it enhances color intensity and incorporates warm tones in the images … During moments of conflict, we employed handheld camera movements to illustrate the intensity of anger and frustration. In the bedroom, I utilized a rotating camera technique while changing the time in the same location, showing that the couple shares the same room and bed, yet each exists in a different world,” he explained.
As “The Edge” makes its festival debut, Al-Qithmi is already contemplating future projects and told Arab News that while he remains committed to exploring themes related to family and relationships, he is also looking to cut his teeth in the world of comedy and science fiction.
