A new film will be released soon, based on a young Deaf boy who arrives in this country from Iraq. See below for where you can see the film – and when/where you can go to the film with Q&A after with the director.
Five-year-old Lawand is on a quest to find a world where there are people like him – people who will understand him. Since birth, Lawand has been profoundly Deaf and unable to communicate with those around him. He undertakes a treacherous journey with his family from Iraq to Derby, home of the Royal School for the Deaf. But this new life soon comes under threat when the family face deportation. Along with members of the Derby community, they begin a new quest – a fight to stay in the place they now call home. Employing a striking visual style that frames Lawand’s development, from being voiceless to a voice representing others in the D/deaf community, Edward Lovelace’s (The Possibilities Are Endless) documentary is an inspirational and touching coming-of-age story.
The documentary, filmed over four years, follows Lawand Hamad Amin, who spent his early years in Iraq unable to hear or communicate. His profound deafness meant he could not learn language, and with no access to a deaf education, Lawand grew isolated and trapped inside himself.
You can watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/-GqcLq3_i8E
Name me Lawand will be previewing at cinemas across the country as part of Refugee Week from 19th – 25th June, before going on general release on 7th July.
You can find a list of cinemas showing the film here (new locations are added regularly).
All screenings of the film will be presented with subtitles for the deaf and people experiencing hearing loss.
There are also special director Q&A preview screenings in Bristol on 19th June at the Watershed Cinema, in London at BFI Southbank on 20th June, and in Derby at the Quad Cinema on 22nd June. All these events will be fully accessible.
Directed by Edward Lovelace