“I believe people don’t choose stories – stories choose people”: Dina Amer on You Resemble Me

You Resemble Me is the debut feature from journalist-turned-filmmaker Dina Amer, who was inspired after covering the story of the “first female suicide bomber”, which turned out to be fake news (a later video revealing the young woman was in fact screaming for help). The feature, which blends fact and fiction to envision the woman behind the headlines, explores the forces that may have led to Hasna Ait Boulahcen losing her sense of identity and becoming radicalised, from her troubled childhood roaming the streets of Paris (beautifully captured in two breathtaking performances from Lorenza Grimaudo and sister Ilonna) through to her adult life, where she must wear many faces to survive abuse from all angles. The idea is artfully presented as subtle shifts between actresses using deep fake technology – including the filmmaker’s own face.

The Upcoming had an in-depth chat with Amer, who described spending 100s of hours interviewing the victim’s family and circle to understand her subject, gaining their trust, and making the decision to fuse fiction and documentary, using deep fake technology to capture the fragmented identity of Hasna. We also discussed how she found and worked with her incredible cast and how she hopes the film prompts people to think before they judge others.

Sarah Bradbury

You Resemble Me is released in select cinemas on 3^rd February 2023.

Watch the trailer for You Resemble Me here: