Staff Pick: "The Tunnel" by Arash Ashtiani
This Week's Staff Pick Premiere, "The Tunnel," BAFTA-nominated filmmaker Arash Ashtiani tells the harrowing tale of three refugees battling to their deaths through the Euro Tunnel linking France to the UK.
Based on true stories, the film is unflinching in its portrayal of the bravery and risk unjustly required from the millions of people seeking fundamental human rights. "The Tunnel" takes us to the tense third section of a bigger story Ashtiani is working on along with co-writer Daniel Metz. However, it stands alone as a powerful and terrifying tale about the extent to which three characters are willing to go in seach of an improved life.
Ashtiani describes the stories he heard in preparing for the movie as "rollercoasters" of physical and emotional tension. The film captures the feeling of this is captured through the immersive visual layout of the tunnel as well as the exact editing that fluctuates between the camaraderie that is formed between the men in the tunnel, their fear growing as the train approaches as well as the quiet of the train station.
Ahead of the announcement, we reached out to Ashtiani to hear more about his film and process. Take a look for a deeper look at how he pulled off such an engaging and dramatic film.
The inspiration behind the film:
"'The Tunnel' was the result of an actual story. My community of friends in London is comprised of people who have come to the UK through a variety of ways and some in the most amazing and tragic ways during the past 20 years. One topic we speak about is how we each arrived in the UK and how some are directly from Calais to Kent using different methods of transportation.
After hearing their tales and heard their stories, I was inspired to tell them. The stories they tell have the feel of a rollercoaster of feelings and experiences to me. The obstacles they face and the hopes they pursue and the desire to be active, and also the energy. There's mental and physical exhaustion and moments when their character is put to the test. The film is filled with laughter and hope even in the most difficult of times and these are the very things have inspired me to write the film. ."
On the writing process:
"'The Tunnel" is the third part in the film script that Daniel Metz and I wrote in collaboration. The first two acts follow the men who are in Calais getting ready to manage the Tunnel. We completed the first draft of the feature script in 2015. Then we created short films and currently are working on the next version of our feature script.
We didn't want to make a social film about refugees however, during the research and script writing we spoke with people who had been living in Calais and reached the UK. We read about the experiences of people who were refugees and wrote their tales, and watched documentaries, plays and films that focus on the camps in Calais and how people reside there."
The production design and cinematography:
"From the writing stage We had this concern regarding where we should shoot the tunnel. We knew a little bit about the actual EuroTunnel and even though we were keen to capture the real characteristic of the tunnel, we weren't going be restricted to these specifics. After months of searching for the perfect location, we came to the conclusion that it was more efficient to shoot at the studio. The problem was to make extensions to each part of the studio.
Mike McLouglin, our production designer, did an amazing job of re-creating a section of the tunnel inside the studio. Nick Morris, our DP was awestruck by the way he shot it. One of the challenges was creating extensions on both sides of the stage to view the tunnel as a vast empty black space. Mike extended it with the genius idea of putting the mirrors on both ends so when the camera looks at either end, it can view the endless tunnel. Mike created a scale model version of the tunnel. Then we used the Hornby Eurostar model train with tiny lenses attached to it to shoot footage of the train actually traveling across the tunnel. The idea seemed bizarre, however once Static VFX then brought their skills and magic to the post-production, everything began to look and feel incredible.
We made the decision to be closer closer to the principal character over time as the years went in. Each time we make a cut from the station to the tunnel, it brings us closer to the main character and it helps to create an experience that is more personal to the tunnel, and also the fearless attempt to run it ."
On the editing of the film
"The editing of the film was among the most intriguing aspects of the entire process. One of the main objectives for me was to test to see how we can build suspense and tension. My co-writer Daniel Metz and I had planned it in the script but I was able understand this when editing the script and must thank the film editor Stuart Gazzard for this.
Through the editing process, I learned what kind of information we need to gradually introduce so that we can build suspense. The film was shot by Gare du Nord station footage along with the train model after the final cut. The editing process helped shape the film by defining the protagonist, creating suspense and also the pace of the film."
The challenge in creating the film
"I consider that in general filmmaking is a challenge. One of the main challenges filmmakers face is getting the money they need to create their films. It took me two years to identify producers. Anna Seifert-Speck had been leading the program for Berlinale Talent Campus where she saw me present my idea and brought me in contact with Anna Griffin. Together , we raised money through The BFI Network and Lush Film Fund.
The mindset for shooting running and action scenes is different when shooting emotional scenes. The difference was apparent during the shoot and the difference came to light for me. In looking back over the shooting days I learned that I invested the exact quantity of time on scenes of action and emotional parts which could have been handled differently... I should have brought the energy and urgency of the escape as well as the sequences into them by shooting them in the fastest and most intense time-frame and spending more time capturing the moment between the characters."
In hopes of the film:
"I believe that what is continuing to get worse is the growth of Nationalism and populist political leaders in British and European government. The government is the one who uses the anti refugees and xenophobe views for benefit in the political arena.
According to the latest British law adopted just a few months ago, young male refugees, just like the characters of 'The Tunnel are now being taken to Rwanda beginning from today waiting for the cases of refugees to be dealt with. I would like to think that the viewers understand those going through the hell of getting to the audience's beloved haven are real people with hopes for a better existence as well as a more peaceful and fulfilling life. They escape their homes and their countries due to conflict as well as religious fanaticism and financial difficult times. The best thing for them is to receive decent treatment to be able to join the society rather than being labelled as criminals.
I hope that by viewing a handful of strangers in unfamiliar surroundings, going through a challenge due to human basic requirements, viewers will see their commonality and recognize them as human beings."
On advice for filmmakers who want to make it:
"Filmmaking is not a solo task and requires teamwork. Look for people who inspire you to do what you're trying to accomplish. A trust in their tastes is the key to a successful partnership. The foundation of trust is knowing your fellow colleagues. Spend as much as you feel you need, and take note of what they have to say and ask them to share with you their top five films and then see if you can connect to them in any way or not. The point is not whether they are close to the film you want to make or not It will allow you determine if your worlds overlap as well as if you share an identical vision for your film.
Do not let the technical aspect of your story overwhelm you, don't compromise your story because of the technical side.
Be courteous to your coworkers and do not Be demanding!"
What's next?
"Developing and directing 'The Tunnel movie feature is my next project. The tale of the characters until the point they enter the tunnel. Co-writers, Daniel Metz, and myself are working on the feature-length script based on the lessons we have learned during the making of the short.
I've just finished the feature-length documentary of the Iranian exiled poet Esmaeel Khoei. He died in London in 2021. The film is mostly based on the VHS recordings he collected in his first years in exile. The release date is October. ."