An Emirati film student is working on a short film that features a story of an Emirati-Filipino, who was bullied for having a “mixed blood”.
Ahmad Al Tunaiji’s upcoming 10-minute film was drawn from the story of now 24-year-old Majid Abdalla Salim Almheiri, who had tragic bullying experience throughout his school life.
Al Tunaiji said “Arasian” tells the story of Khalifa, a 14-year-old student struggling to embrace his Filipino bloodline while trying to fit in.
“My intention with this short film is to open a platform for my audience to discuss among themselves why do such stigmas exist? On a micro scale, I want my audience to see how every Emirati is an Emirati regardless of whether their bloodline is pure or mixed,” Khaleej Times quoted Al Tunaiji as saying.
The film student announced plans to submit the film for the Dubai International Film Festival.
Almheiri, a son of a Filipino mother and an Emirati father, experienced verbal and physical bullying, such as being tagged as dirty-blooded and cutting his wrist.
“One day, I had to go home by bus so I was caught by my classmates and they took me away. I was gullible. [I] ended up being jumped by them and they cut my arm, saying that my blood is dirty,” Almheiri said.
Almheiri said he has moved on from his tragic experience, but called on bullies accept different cultures and nationalities.
“I don’t blame them at all. I hope that now it won’t be an issue. I love my friends, family, and of course, my mother for giving birth to me.”
Photo Credit: Pixabay
