Director Cyrus Neshvad’s The Red Suitcase is a heartbreaking story of a 16-year-old Iranian girl who is visibly terrified after picking up her red suitcase at the airport. She is seen to be lost in thought and taking her time to leave the departure lounge. What awaits her on the other side of the automatic doors is even more daunting than we thought.
In the story, Neshvad uses the narrative as a metaphor for things the main character Ariane (stunningly played by Nawelle Ewad) faces culturally and personally; she does not accept how things are, the life her parents gave her, or the traditions that exist in her own country. This short film lets us into the inner terror she faces to be a good Muslim – pleasing her parents and her new husband (whom she’s never met) through an arranged marriage.
It’s a lot for her to take. However, the frightening framework for the story is also highly liberating. In short, Ariane takes things – her life specifically – into her own hands. This powerful film is also Neshvad’s way of speaking out about what’s happening in his country, one he was lucky enough to get out of decades earlier. In some ways, his story rivals young Ariane’s as he, too, once faced being in a foreign country facing challenges like language, culture, even economics.
We spoke to Cyrus to about the white-knuckle film which has been shortlisted to qualify for an Academy Award nomination. You can check out this short and his other works at Cyrus’ official website. But for now, have a listen to our chat with Cyrus and check out The Red Suitcase however you can.
Luxembourg Airport. Late in the evening. A veiled 16-year-old Iranian girl is frightened to take her red suitcase on the automatic carpet. She keeps pushing back the moment to go through the arrival gate and seems more and more terrified.
Cyrus Neshvad is a Luxembourg director of Iranian origin. He has directed o several short films including THE ORCHID, ANTOINE, SON and PORTRAITIST which have all been produced by CYNEFILMS. Collectively these films have officially been selected in over 300 festivals, over 30 of them Oscar-qualifying. PORTRAITIST qualified for the Oscars in 2020 and won 55 awards including the Letzebuerger Filmpraïs 2021 in Luxembourg. Currently, Cyrus Neshvad is developing his first feature film “LE REFUGE / THE SHELTER” supported by the Film Fund Luxembourg.
