Clamp (2018)

Directed by: Ish Ait Hamou | 18 minutes | short film, drama | Actors: Nasrdin Dchar, Veerle Dobbelaere, Circé Lethem, Renée Vervaet

The versatile Belgian Ish Ait Hamou dances, choreographs, judges, presents and writes and since his short film debut ‘Klem’ (2018) he has also shown that he can direct. The film is based on a short story he wrote himself (published in the novella ‘When you lose someone you can’t lose’) and after seeing the short film you understand why he wanted to direct himself.

The theme of ‘Klem’ is loss and how we deal with it. There are only two characters (of interest): Els, a former surgeon, and Sulayman, a train passenger. The two meet on the train. They sit opposite each other. Els is wearing earplugs, but when Sulayman looks at her questioningly, she still wants to help him. Sulayman learns Dutch, using a dictionary, which he spells – literally – from A to Z. He’s at the K for cucumber, but pronouncing that word takes some practice. They get to talking and – as sometimes happens when a meeting feels familiar and ‘good’ right away – make personal outpourings. The voicemail that Sulayman later leaves does not feel strange: a real friendship has arisen here.

The roles are played sublimely by Veerle Dobbelaere and Nasrdin Dchar. In any case, the filmmaker has gold in his hands with this talented cast, but he knows how to let them pronounce his texts naturally (Sulayman’s best saying: “If you give time to difficult, difficult becomes easy.”). The story is moving and holds up a mirror to the viewer: why do we often duck when someone seeks contact? At a bus stop, on the train, in front of the cash register at the supermarket. Are we all such loners? A stranger can often be a friend you don’t know yet. The nice thing about ‘Klem’ is that there is room for interpretation, not all checkboxes are checked. At the same time, you actually want to spend longer with these characters and see how their friendship develops. Perhaps in an alternate universe. Beautiful short film by a multi-talented, of whom we will hopefully see or read a lot more.