Venice 2024 (Orizzonti): Who Loves the Sun (by Arshia Shakiba) | Review
In a suffocating film, men turned makeshift oil refiners work a decaying oil site in northern Syria. Visually stunning, Arshia Shabika’s Who Loves the Sun had its world premiere at the 81st Venice Film Festival.
Thick wisps of smoke, as dark as it looks noxious, unfurl and roll past before the camera, gradually revealing a striking industrial oil site that would seem abandoned if not for the few men diligently at work. The meticulously crafted visuals make full use of technical prowess, framing, and keen observation to capture stunning imagery of this facility. The equipment, though visibly functional, appears at best worn, at worst damaged. In this post-apocalyptic-looking space, where earth and sky blend into a subtle gradient of gray and brown, oil is extracted and refined in an almost artisanal manner. A few men, whose air you’d never wish to share, keep this great industrial beast running. Although it seems asleep, it still breathes out the black gold that sustains these men. Once refined, they transport the precious liquid to the city, to an improvised gas station where it becomes their livelihood—a livelihood that both sustains and destroys them, given the steep price they pay for it.
In this stunning and suffocating short film, Arshia Shabika turns his camera toward one of the many lasting consequences of the Syrian civil war, which has decimated numerous energy production sites. Out of necessity, some have taken up the dangerous trade of oil refining under extreme health conditions. Yet, this sacrifice cannot bring light to their lives or surroundings. This is powerfully underscored in the film’s final sequence, where the camera follows the main character riding his motorcycle, its headlights piercing the night and briefly illuminating the residents who live along the small road. The music, absent until now, is introduced to emphasize the symbolism of this shot. The character cannot see further than ten meters ahead, and all his efforts are unable to pierce the darkness that envelops his region.
Produced by Zaynê Akyol and distributed by the vibrant Quebec-based Travelling Distribution, Who Loves the Sun is an impressive exercise in style, both gripping and memorable. One might regret the absence of a title card providing more context about the location and situation of these artisanal refiners in Northern Syria. Nevertheless, the film remains a solid entry in the Orizzonti Competition at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where it just had its world premiere. A few days later, the filmmaker will have the opportunity to present the film to audiences at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, where it is part of the Short Cuts Competition.
Explore our exclusive coverage of the 81st Venice International Film Festival here.
