In 2012 Emirati Amal Al-Agroobi embarked on a journey that would become a passionate cause. Once she learned about the debilitating effects of autism and the magic of music therapy, she felt that she needed to share the story with the world. She produced a documentary styled – film entitled ‘The Brain that Sings’ that catalogues three months of musical therapy of two autistic boys in the UAE. The film went on to win the Emirates NBD People’s Award at the Dubai Film Festival.
In the documentary-styled film we see the raw, real life experiences of two autistic boys with distinct personalities and unique circumstances: the aggressive young adult Mohammed who lives in Abu Dhabi, and the grieving child Khalifa who lives in Dubai.
“Never before have we had a window into the personal lives of Arab nationals living with special needs children,” said Al-Agroobi. “We explore the cultural stigma associated with having an autistic child in the UAE and the issues the families face when they plan for their future- socially, financially and culturally.”
The film shows Marion Tennant, a music therapist based in Dubai, who offers them 14 weeks of music therapy that involves the use melody and rhythm to shape the mood of the autistic boys. Through the course of the film we witness the lives of the two Arab families, and their boys undergoing a gradual transformation.
The whole idea came to Al-Agroobi after she learned about a woman named Tala Badri whose daughter Sara became more social after she went through three months of music therapy. Agroobi became determined to share the success of music therapy and present it as an innovative medical option, to the UAE and the Arab region.
She began working on her film in the mid 2012, throwing herself into the pre-production phase. Principal photography started January 2013 for four months to follow the progress of the boys, then the following post production took six months. Once the film was finished film it was presented at the Dubai International Film Festival in December 2013 where it won the people’s choice award.
“I will continue to be associated with it in the long term, during the film festival route this year and then when it gets to TV, VOD or DVD. Now I understand why the big filmmakers take years to make a film – aside from tracking the boys’ progress, it takes a good while to find the funds, get the right people on board and coordinate everything,” she said, acknowledging the support of Badr Jafar (CEO of Crescent Enterprises), the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, and twofour54’s creative lab.
Al-Agroobi doesn’t want the film to be limited to winning awards, but sees its real purpose in creating awareness about autism and music therapy. “I was in London last year, I was introduced to the pop-up cinema concept where you would set up a screening somewhere where people couldn’t access cinemas or every likely see the film”.
She is now hoping to apply the same mobile screen concept and take the film to rural and cloistered communities. “There are some people living out in the middle of Ras Al Khaimah or Al Ruwais or Dibba or even Dubai who will never be able to leave the house due to societal reasons or health reasons who might never see this film. Our idea is to use the facilities at a location to screen the film to people, as and when, and give them that chance to feel like they can relate…that they’re not alone. The point of this is to really get the film out there”.
She believes that the real lives of the autistic boys and their families will have impact. “Nobody has the power to communicate with an audience better than a film and we want to reach our target so we can share it, create real “autism awareness” from the truth that comes from these people’s mouths rather than what we see and hear on TV or through giant billboards all over the country”.
Al-Agroobi urges people not to be quick to judge autistic individuals. “You might have heard things, seen things and reacted in a negative way because you were convinced of what you believed. If we do this we are rendered closed minded, uneducated people. Keep an open mind and an open heart. The only way to move through this world is through respect. You need to watch this film. Trust me. It will change your life.”
To realise her campaign objectives Al-Agroobi needs funds that will be used for transportation, equipment and screening materials with rewards given for any amount of contribution – including a chance at directing a future film with her as producer. Her appeal has been deployed on Zoomaal.com, an online crowd-funding challenge for women launched in association with HIVOS, and she has until June 7 to reach the minimum $10,000 point, or she won’t receive the payment.
“Sponsors have a special deal of course and can get their logo on the banner and in the film and have a possibility to distribute products/information during each screening – imagine, we will be in over 200 schools, universities and companies; all over the country! If you’re a school or university or a group of friends or part of company you can also opt to have the film screen at your entity,” she said.
Al-Agroobi can be reached on emailthebrainthatsings@gmail.com. Any contribution, however big or small, can be made at www.zoomaal.com/p/bts
