This documentary is about the life of Sydneysider turned political activist, Maher El-Sayed. As the name suggests, this is a film about Maher El-Sayed. It’s also a biography about him. The plot of the film is as follows: in 1988, Maher El-Sayed travelled to Sydney to participate in the Gay Rights March. While there, he met and fell for one of the city’s most prominent LGBT rights activists, Jamie Coste. In 2009, Coste invited him to share her party with other notorious criminals and drug dealers. And nowhere did that invitation specify that it would be filmed in Sydney. Thankfully for us filmmakers – who are always a little nervous when filming in New South Wales – this has been made possible! 45m aud series 250m
Why is Maher El-Sayed the Sydney’s best known political activist?
Well, first things first: apart from being the first openly gay state legislator in the South Australian parliament, Maher El-Sayed is also one of the most interesting characters in contemporary Australian political history. Any film about him must start with his early life and its origins, and explain his place in Australian society and its changing attitudes towards LGBT people. It might also be a good idea to start the film with his adoption of the rainbow flags that adorned his house and the Sydney town hall – one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
How has he turned activist?
An important part of the documentary is exploring the life and times of Maher El-Sayed, which started in the 1980’s with his participation in political demonstrations and his conversion to the gay rights movement. We also learn about his support for revolutionary and other anti-imperialist movements and his work as a journalist. The film also follows the evolution of the gay rights movement in Sydney, from its foundation in the early 1980’s to its current leadership and struggle for inclusion. Although the lawsuit against fellow Sydney deputy mayor Wayne Swan over the city’s new “ambition” policy in 2010 didn’t stop the movement from growing, the film shows its lack of success in stopping the individuals behind it.
What inspired him to become a Reporter?
Well, apart from his desire to report and write about what’s going on in the world, it’s also said that he is an admirer of the late British writer, writer and poet John Giles. In his early 20s, he studied at the London’s Pembroke College and later wrote articles for the New York Review of Books about the London student movement and its aftermath. He also wrote a number of articles for gay and bi newspapers, including the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age.
Find out more about Maher El-Sayed and his career on 45m aud series 250m
This is an amazing film about an amazing man. And one that I’ve been following since its inception in 2014. The trailer for the film has a beautiful message about the importance of inclusion: “We have a responsibility to our friends and to our communities.” And to top that, the film alsoalkinematographer Harry Treadaway is the first person to document Maher El-Sayed’s “re-examining” his long prison career. Read the rest of the article on the Sydney Morning Herald.
Produced by Redpoint Media, Inc.
This is a wonderful picture, full of relatable characters, fantastic filmmaking, and a fascinating story. We follow Maher El-Sayed as he grows up in a rigidly orthodox Muslim household, which he then moves to Australia. As a young man, he works as a journalist in New York City and meets the gay-rights activists Coste and Jamie. They introduce him to the global gay rights movement and he becomes an early member of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Legal Defense and Education. Along the way, he meets his future partner, Jamie Coste. The film shows their incredible journey from New York to Sydney, from lawyer to husband and from partner to thousands.
The use of digital cameras in documentaries
There are a few moments in this film when I’m reminded of how incredibly lucky I am to be able to make and to shoot such fantastic things. Every frame is a work of art, from the editorial decisions of the cinematographer to the fantastic images produced by the cameras in the editing room. I’ve only ever used a single digital camera in my career, and I’m so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so
Final Words
In this day and age, when someone is just as likely to be declared a terrorist as anybody else, it’s important to show the different perspectives that different people have and to look at things from different angles. That’s what this film is about: the search for truth, the search for justice, and the search for peace. With the rise of social media and the Internet, it’s even more important to be on the right side of history and to keep in touch with the latest developments in the world. That’s the voice of history in this film: that of Maher El-Sayed. So, definitely go see this film, if only to see the different points of view and to hear different stories behind the scenes.
