The Interpreter Review

The Interpreter is a short film currently doing the rounds on the festival circuit and already gaining a buzz.

Belma (Yasmine Alice) is a Turkish interpreter who starts a job in the NHS. On her first day, she’s thrown into the deep end when she works in a psychiatric hospital to speak to a patient with schizophrenia and has to tell a man his wife is dying from Alzheimer’s.

The Interpreter was made by the people who made The Truckman, and I will be upfront: I have worked with some of the people involved with this short. However, I aim to be honest, and an objective critic, and personal relationships shouldn’t affect my judgement.

Yasmine wrote the script as well as starring and producing the short. In the promotional notes Yasmine stated that she based the short on her own experience. At the start of her acting career, Yasmine also worked as an interpreter. The film opens by stating that no formal qualifications were needed to be an interpreter, nor is there any training or aftercare. Belma was thrown in the deep end since she had to interview a volatile patient and then give a man the worst news he could hear. Adding to her strain was the empathy: Belma wanted to console these people but the doctors told her not to engage in personal conversations. The doctors were cold and clinical which gave them emotional distance. Belma hadn’t developed those skills.

The cinematography emphasised the tight, claustrophobic nature of the rooms and there were a significant number of close-ups during the emotional stress. It was especially effective on Belma as all of her emotion was felt on her face even though she was trying to hide it. This cinematography and acting made The Interpreter a tight, small-scale drama, which was fitting. Belma was given a backstory since she had broken up with her boyfriend just before the events on the short and afterward even though Belma was overwhelmed, she had to go onto another job in London.

Yasmine states she was inspired by the experience within the Turkish community in London and that they can be insular. Whilst Yasmine’s story was based on the Turkish experience, it could be extended to other immigrant communities. There’s a large population from South Asia living in the UK and some people are unable to speak English or have limited knowledge of the language. In recent times there have been refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine coming to the UK and they need support when accessing education, healthcare, and welfare. In my own experience working for a local authority, Polish residents needed to use services and there was a Polish employer designated to help service users.

The press notes state in the film how overstretched people working in the NHS can be. This was fitting considering the recent issues within the NHS like increasing waiting lists. I can relate because of recent personal experience since it can be hard to speak to doctors and nurses and their level of empathy can vary wildly.

The Interpreter should do well on the festival circuit because of its subject matter and it would be deserved considering its direction, writing, and acting.