Director: Edward Lovelace
Edward Lovelace’s documentary follows several years in the life of Lawand, a young Kurdish boy living in England after he and his family fled Iraq. Deaf since birth, Lawand cannot easily communicate with others. At the Royal School for the Deaf in Derby, however, Lawand learns sign language and begins to thrive in his new environment. That hard-won progress is imperilled when Lawand’s family is threatened with deportation. However, Lawand’s friends, family and local community are determined to fight to keep him in the UK.
Name Me Lawand is a film that steps beyond the traditional documentary form to create something more poetic and impressionistic. It immerses the viewer in Lawand’s lived experience in a way that’s profound and soul-stirring.
Awards & festivals:
London Film Festival, 2022
Hot Docs Festival, 2023
Quotes:
“A moving, impressionistic piece that immerses us in the world of the titular Kurdish boy” – Vladan Petkovic, Cineuropa
★★★★ “Even without documentary director Edward Lovelace’s inventive approach, this would be a potent and powerful story. But what’s particularly impressive is the way… the film tries to capture Lawand’s lived experience” – Wendy Ide, The Observer
