Elijah, 13, is playing basketball in a Malmö park when Nic, a youth leader at the organization Helamalmö, catches his eye. But “Will You Be Sad If I Die?” is about more than just a lost basketball talent on the road to crime.
There is a reciprocity. Elijah also comes to Nic's rescue. Often adults may have lost their lust for life, but then they meet children! Children are like little explosions of power and joy of life, says author Nicolas Lunabba.
The film's lonely Nic despairs over the many children and young people being murdered in his vicinity. He lets Elijah move in with him and becomes so involved that he has to quit his job.
I asked Nicolas many times, "why, why did you take the boy home?" But it's impossible to articulate, says Peshang Rad, who plays Nic.
Not as brave
Halfway into the film, Peshang Rad was struck by the realization that he himself was not nearly as brave as his character.
You need to really look at yourself in the mirror. I believe this goodness is within us, but sometimes we need to be reminded.
The easiest thing would have been to do as so many others did - “revel in the tragic” and exploit the violence, emphasizes film director Rojda Sekersöz. She did not want to reproduce stereotypical film images of “brown and poor children and men” as criminal terrorists.
It is dangerous for the times we live in. Art and media create images that we reflect ourselves in, there is research that shows that people behave according to the expectations they are given, she says.
A hopeful film
Rojda Sekersöz chose to give Nic a big role as well. She wanted to make a hopeful film about taking responsibility.
In Sweden, we are extreme when it comes to individualism. We don't interfere in other people's lives. When we see things happening, we would rather call a guard, the police or social services. I think this film aims to question that, she says.
We are the society, not anyone else. People who work with these young people know that.
The message also applies on a symbolic level, Nicolas Lunabba believes:
"It is society's duty to step in when you know that there are large areas that are falling into disrepair. It is not the residents' fault. These are major structural political issues and a change at the highest level is needed to give these people the opportunity for a dignified life," he says.
Facts: “Will you be sad if I die?”
The film is based on Nicolas Lunabba's autobiographical debut novel of the same title (2022) and will premiere in theaters on August 21. His book was praised by many critics and Lunabba received great attention.
Rojda Sekersöz has directed and the main roles are played by Peshang Rad and Rudwan Socdal.
