Naaz - Uproot

When you plant a tree in a pot that’s way too small, it can’t ever reach its full potential. It doesn’t matter how well you think you take care of it; it’s not lazy, stubborn, or unwilling - it just can’t.
So, the tree tries so hard; the pressure of its growing, loyal roots pushes hard enough for its pot to break. We’re upset; it caused us a burden. The tree's will to live, grow, and reach its best potential has become a liability to the society we protect. Consequently, we send and collect all refugees, immigrants, minorities to the outskirts of the big cities for them to remain small and create no opportunity to outgrow their prejudice. Then, we dehumanize communities who sometimes end up in criminality, women who can't always follow the feminist path, and the dark consequences of hiding one's true nature. We dehumanize them in our prejudices, the films we watch and make, the microaggression jokes that ‘we should be able to say,’ and the way we leave them out of society.
I’m a woman of color, the proud daughter of refugees, born and raised in the Netherlands. I grew up in Rotterdam Beverwaard, a place often described as an ‘achterstandswijk’ (slums) - I despise this word. The damage it causes. So, I made a song called ‘Uproot’ to help you understand (or relate).
In my film, I depict a sex worker who takes pride in her work, a young girl navigating life with a refugee mom battling depression, a young boy reluctantly caught up in the drug scene, and a ‘straatjongen’ who's faced a lifetime of discrimination. Despite his tough exterior, all he really wants is to look out for the next generation. Unfortunately, people tend to steer clear, held back by their own assumptions.
Written by Naaz
Produced by Naaz & Timo Naomi
Mixed by Casper van der Lans at MRF Recordings
Mastered by Pete Maher
Recorded in my bedroom :)
Film credits:
Starring:
Nazmiye Oral
Ferhat Kaplan
Boran Toksöz
Dewi Kadita
Naaz Mohammad
Directors: Ferhat Kaplan & Naaz Mohammad
D.O.P: Zino de Groot
Gaffer: Quintijn Maas
Concept: Naaz Mohammad & Ferhat Kaplan
Production: Rosa De Wijn & Ann Bosmans
Editing & Color: Zino De Groot
Special thanks:
Nehir Guvenc
BonTon Club and it's team