Although born and raised in Haifa, Israel, as a Jew, I don't remember ever interacting with its Arab citizens. Haifa may be a proudly mixed city, though in Israel Jews and Arabs exist in two parallel circles, like different classes: they live in different neighborhoods and attend different educational systems. Many films are made about the Israeli conflict and the occupation, I felt I wanted to scrutinise a quiet front, one which symbolises coexistence and peacefulness, and decided to shoot in Haifa.
Haifa was also a natural choice for me, since it’s my hometown - where my identity begins, with a father who came from Egypt and a mother whose parents came from Poland. I sought a place where I would be able to build an intimacy with the subjects, and the decision to work for a hairdresser seemed perfect because of the physical connection with the women and the traffic of clientele that such a place offers. I decided that for this one summer I will become a hair-washer and film conversations in a sink!
Location scouting was not an easy task, as I had to convince a beauty salon not only to let me shoot but also to kind of hire me. I got to know Fifi’s salon through my mom’s neighbor, a Muslim Arab who is a hairdresser herself, though works in a Jewish neighborhood. She told me that Fifi’s – an established little salon in Wadi Nisnas (an Arab neighbourhood, downtown) - would be ideal for my purpose, and she couldn’t have been more right. Once I entered the place I felt a great energy and knew that I have to shoot in there. Gladly, the owners of the salon, Fifi (Frial) and Nawal - who also appear in my film - were extremely sweet and welcoming, and said ‘yes’ right away.
As a hair-washer, I was rather slow and clueless at first, and if I’m being honest – I had really slowed things down (hair washing is much harder than it seems!). I have improved quite fast, though, and after a short while the owners have realised that I was not only there to make the film but also to work hard - wash the floor, clean the toilet, etc. They started to trust me more… to the extent that they have actually become some sort of production assistants: they have been the ones convincing women to be filmed for the project.
Every day I was shampooing and filming many women – Arabs and Jews, chatting with them about their day, about racism in Israel, about marriage and having kids. It was fascinating and exciting to meet so many women and have this unique moment of bond and intimacy. Both the owners and the customers, who have been coming to Fifi’s for years, really cared about my project. I don’t think that I’ve ever been treated this way in my life. There was so much warmth in this little place, so much love and care. It felt like being in a womb.
Women in Sink is nominated for Best Student Documentary at The Grierson Awards 2016.
Iris Zaki for Royal Holloway, University of London; first shown: UK Jewish Film Festival.
