An award-winning Iranian-born Canadian filmmaker based in Vancouver says he was inspired to make a film about the COVID-19 pandemic while he was in an elevator reading about Chinese tourists being attacked.
Mostafa Keshvari's films focus on relevant social issues and have been screened at international film festivals, such as Cannes. As a minority filmmaker and the President of BC Minorities for Film and TV Society, he says that he, "advocates diversity and inclusion in the film industry."
In Keshvar's second full-length feature film Corona, he, "uses the Covid-19 pandemic as a metaphor, allegory and symbol of fear, racism and xenophobia."
"Corona" tells the story of a group of neighbours trapped in an elevator at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. Six members of the group soon begin to suspect a seventh Chinese neighbour of being an infectious carrier of the disease. Along with the Chinese neighbour, the group which has to contend with the lack of space in the elevator includes a black elevator repairman, a young female millennial, a wheelchair bound white supremacist, a pregnant woman, the building owner and an unfortunate tenant who is overwhelmed by debt.
Shot last month in Vancouver, Canada, the film was largely completed before the outbreak of the coronavirus was finally reclassified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization.
"It was then known as the Chinese virus, but now everyone can have it, so it's not just one race's problem. Now the human race has to come together to defeat the virus," points out the Canadian director, who adds, "The virus doesn't discriminate, so why should we?"
Mostafa Keshvari initially planned to show "Corona" on the festival circuit, but the Canadian director is now seeking a streaming release. However, no specific release date has been announced for the moment.
Have a look at the trailor for Corona.
- With files from Relax News.
