Nearly a year to the day since Nadine Labaki last graced the screen, the acclaimed Lebanese actress and director has made her highly anticipated return in The Sand Castle, a fantasy-drama that premiered on Netflix on January 24.
Directed by Emmy-nominated American filmmaker Matty Brown, the film tells the gripping tale of a family of four stranded on a mysterious desert island, where a hidden secret begins to distort their perception of reality. As the family struggles to connect with the outside world, their isolation forces them to confront buried fears, unresolved tensions, and painful truths. At the heart of their turmoil is their fight to protect the youngest family member, Jana, as the household’s fractured dynamics threaten to unravel completely. As the story unfolds, the line between reality and fiction blurs, leaving each family member to grapple with the consequences of their actions as well as the role they play in a deepening mystery.
Casting-wise, Brown tapped Labaki to star as the mother, alongside renowned Palestinian actor Ziad Bakri as the father, and Cannes Jury Prize winner (2018) Zain Al Rafeea as the son. To make it more touching, Zain’s real-life sister portrays his sibling on screen, adding a layer of authenticity to the film.
To mark the release of The Sand Castle, we caught up with Brown for a quick Q&A session, delving into the origins of the movie’s pitch, how he picked each actor in their respective roles, and the artistic vision that shaped the film’s fairly unique tone.
Below, a transcript of our short, yet, insightful conversation.
Where did the inspiration for this film come from?
Matty Brown: “I originally wrote the story when I was a child. I had a difficult upbringing and I used to make up stories that made my life seem better than what the reality of it actually was. To help deal with the reality, I would write a lot of stories to try to make sense of it all, and had a dream that inspired me to write The Sand Castle. My childhood trauma was intense and still affects me to this day, but what these children in war and displacement go through is exponentially worse and I can’t believe they can withstand such brutal assault on their childhood wonder, leaving them forced to grow up too soon.
I wanted to explore how a child’s psyche protects itself, shielding from the horrors of reality by hiding deep into their imagination. And what happens when that imagination is breached by that reality? It’s an abstract idea for them, so we must see it through their point of view. War doesn’t make sense to a child. Death doesn’t make sense to them. So, we must surrender ourselves to the puzzle-like mystery of a child’s psyche as it succumbs to trauma, helplessly watching their imagination crumble before our eyes. It’s a harsh, continuous reality in our world, and hopefully one that we can instill empathy in others to nurture all children before their precious lights go out.”
The cast really brings to life an emotionally-packed storyline. How did you go about casting each actor for their role?
Matty Brown: “I immediately wanted Zain to be in the film. He fit the role of Adam so well, and seeing him in Capernaum blew me away by how real and raw he was. Nadine Labaki was kind enough to put us in touch with him. She has been such a major source of inspiration, it just felt right that she and Zain would be mother and son in the film. Her powerful presence matched the tension for the film. As I was doing zoom calls with Zain, I saw Riman in the background on the video chat and thought, wow, she’s the same age as the girl in the film and since she is Zain’s sister, let’s make this connection in the film even closer by having real brother and sister play opposite.
I met Ziad Bakri and knew right away that he was the father, Nabil, in the film. He’s a very sensitive soul and it comes across very easily on screen. “
Dialogue is limited all throughout the film, allowing the audience to interpret each scene in their own way. Was there a specific artistic intention behind this approach?
Matty Brown: “Children dealing with trauma are often more quiet and observant, taking in their surroundings. With the family hiding so many emotions and information from each other, it made sense to keep Jana just out of reach of what is really happening. The way the mother, father, and son interact with each other, you can tell there is something very serious that is happening but they have to keep it to themselves so Riman’s mind doesn’t collapse on itself in the movie.
We begin in the dark along with her confusion at the forefront. She’s playing make believe yet the tension of her family grounds this beautiful world into a more obscure fragmented reality that slowly rumbles up to the surface. They are in a very precarious situation that no parent wants to reveal to their child. Through sound design, and slow building pace, I wanted to make this world feel secure and serene, and then slowly ramp up as reality starts leaking into Jana’s fragile imagination. No matter what the parents try to do, there’s no protection from the truth that’s forcing its way in.”
When working with younger actors on scenes that are so dark and emotionally intense, how do you help them navigate the emotional demands of such performances?
Matty Brown: “Zain and Riman are much more mature than they may seem on screen. As Syrian refugees living in Lebanon, their upbringings were particularly difficult. Zain is so talented, and I’m in awe of his ability to fluctuate from very high to very low at the snap of a finger.
Riman had a more playful approach and so the scenes, as we shot them, didn’t feel as intense as they are in the final edit. I would explain each scene to her in a way that felt like a children’s story and she was able to ease into the more intense scenes. It felt as if the more intense scenes were the more fun for the kids to shoot because of all the action and practical effects.”