Director Emily Shir Segal (Tonight – Halayla) brings an incredibly personal story to life after the death of her father in March 2020. The personal reconstruction through archival footage of her childhood is both touching and heart-breaking. I think it’s enough, isn’t it? is a snapshot of a life and a relationship; a tribute to a father. The film has recently been showcased at this year’s Slamdance Film Festival.
Emily’s monologue over the footage intermingles with the sound of her father’s voice on the tapes, reflecting their relationship in life as one of unity while also signifying their sad parting. The monologue gives us a direct insight into Emily’s thoughts, but the videos speak volumes above this. Together they are full of love and life – the past and the present.
Interview with Emily
Can you tell me a bit about why you wanted to make this short documentary?
“My Dad passed away suddenly and quickly in March of last year. Because of the new COVID-19 restriction, I was never able to see him in the short while before his death and after. This made it all the more difficult to comprehend and so of course to come to terms with. I felt that I had missed out on saying goodbye. I was looking for some sort of closure. It was the first time I told the story out loud, realising he really is gone, and I won’t hear his footsteps come up the stairs anymore. At the same time, while trying to deal with his death, I wanted to make sense of his life, of our relationship.”
What did it feel like looking through the footage initially?
“I first found the footage when I was sitting Shiva (Jewish week-long mourning ceremony) at my parents’ house. I was trying to keep busy, organizing and cleaning, when I found all of the tapes. It was really exciting to me, like finding a treasure box. Hearing his voice again, calling my name was magical. I remember my sister and Mom coming down the stairs, shocked, saying “Did I just hear?…”.
I felt like I stumbled onto a time machine. A lot of the footage I didn’t remember at all. It was almost therapeutic to watch all of the footage – kind of like re-living my childhood memories with him.
Film is magical like that.”
Did your father film throughout your life? And was this a part of the reason you developed an interest in film?
“My Dad did film throughout my life. I was born in 95, the golden era for home camcorders and Mini DV tapes. My Dad was somewhat of a technology geek, always buying the latest invention. I am the third out of three children, but my siblings are a lot older than me, so I think maybe I was filmed a lot because my Dad was compensating for the time he couldn’t do so with my siblings because of economic issues or purely technology.
I actually never connected his passion for filming with mine up until I watched the footage. But now I can see that his own way he absolutely did influence my interest in film.”
When you think of your dad, what immediately comes to mind?
“Very strange things. WiFi. Slippers. Bread with butter.
I think you never realize, after someone close passes away, how much you will miss these small, day to day things.”
How else has coronavirus affected you? Going into a lockdown and having to stay away from everyone at a time when you most need love and support must have been really isolating.
“It was difficult, but I think in retrospect it was the most healing way for me to deal with things. First I think Shiva ceremony it self is very intelligently thought out. It gives you a week of time out from your life, in which you can sink as deep as you’d like. Then, because of COVID-19, I had a period of not being able to work, being at home. I think it was good for me – allowing me to grieve in my own way and time, not having to pretend to go back to my normal life immediately after the Shiva. And lastly, my partner had truly been my rock during this time – when I’m with her it never feels lonely.”
What are you goals as a director; what inspires you, what do you hope to represent?
“I want to make films that I want to watch – that are dramatic, funny, heart-warming, communicative. Films that feel close to my life somehow – almost always concentrating on female protagonists. I’m inspired greatly by music and by visuals – ideas for films usually come up as frames and moments, not necessarily stories.
I hope to represent a female voice. It sounds like a small thing but I believe that it is a lot. “
Are there any projects you’re currently working on – how are things going with these?
“Yes! I’m always working and not working on projects kind of simultaneously, because I have a very difficult time with scriptwriting – I find it the most daunting task of filmmaking.
I’m working on two narrative projects – the first one is a short film, my final project in film school, and it’s a musical about an elderly lesbian couple and a relationship crisis. The second one is a feature length film (this will take a while to write…) based about my parents’ life – a young Israeli couple that moves to Italy in the mid-70’s to go to Medical school, facing life as a newlywed couple in a strange country that is flagged by political terrorism, living in a difficult economical situation.
I’d also really love to do some more documentary work, but right now nothing’s planned yet.”
Watch the trailer for I think it’s enough, isn’t it? below!