Louvre Abu Dhabi is mistakenly perceived as a very "French" and elitist institution by local and younger audiences in the Arabian Peninsula, with its doors seemingly only open for older patrons and art connoisseurs. In order to break the mold and appeal to the melting pot population of the UAE, Louvre Abu Dhabi had to demonstrate that it was not only deeply rooted in the local culture but also in popular culture. By taking the Arabic Hakawati traditional form of storytelling and applying a slam poetry twist to it, Louvre Abu Dhabi not only closed a generational gap but also showcased how Louvre Abu Dhabi’s institution, beyond the French inspiration, was built out of the fabric of the UAE. Through this film, the local museum showed a thorough understanding of the nuances that make the Emirates and its people so special.

The direction aimed to create a film that’s an ode to art; offering a new aesthetic point of view by exciting visual and auditory senses and bringing a touch of magic.

Featuring various artistic themes; the film is a visual poetry exercise, an art piece by itself, and a ‘time out of time’ experience.

The dramatic curve of the poem set the tone for the film; accentuated by action, framing, camera movement, music and editing pace; with the framing evolving from well-composed, slow gliding movements to more vibrant shots.

A narration of the poem, by Mr. Ben Okri himself, was placed over the film

with punctuated interventions of the protagonists, who break the 4th wall the first time

at the pivotal question: “What does it mean to be human?” followed by

another intervention in the subsequent section to create an intergenerational dialogue between the unseen poet and the visible youth.