The Making of Talzar

A film project in collaboration with Saad Mulhadin

Saad Mulhadin is an Iraqi engineer who came to Sweden as a refugee from the Gulf War in the early 1990's. In 2007 we met in Gothenburg. We decided to work together on a project because of our shared concern about the war in Iraq and our frustration with the fundamental misunderstandings between Iraqis and Americans. Saad considers himself as part of a "lost generation" of refugees, those torn from their cultural roots and unable to fully assimilate into his new cultural environment. He has been working for some time on a science fiction story based on his life and the conflict in his home country. He has created an imaginary world, complete with complex characters and plots that navigate ideas of exile, war, and the search for peace. Talzar (the main character, based on Saad) is a father and a wizard with a magical cloak, whose special abilities include time travel and diplomacy. When we met, Saad was stuck on how to continue with the story. We decided to work on it together and to make a film about the making of the story. As our project evolved, we saw a need to include other people to assist us. Our team currently includes: from the US, product designer Colter Leys (who is developing the time machine), costume designer Sophy Naess, and writer Eliza Wilmerding. Also, we are working with an illustrator and a filmmaker who are both Iraqis living in Sweden. The first part of the work was exhibited at the Alma Lov Museum in Varmland, Sweden (June–August 08).