The themes and challenges depicted in The Caravan are entirely personal to me. My son was born with Down’s Syndrome and gradually developed autism as well. However, the actual story has no autobiographical background – what is personal about it is the desire to escape, the longing to revolt and defy the role of a disabled child’s mother. The theme of rebellion is reflected in the choice of the genre as well. The road movie is, to me, the best expression of Ester’s aggressive desire to live.
I am drawn to the character of Ester for two reasons. She is a strong adult woman – not a girl still searching for her inner self. She is searching for a new roadmap to her life but her search is not the blind trial-and-error of an adolescent, rather the real, deeply felt existential journey of a middle aged woman, a mother and an individual, who refuses to give in to her expected role of a caretaker.
I want to make a film that is hopeful in spite of the heavy subject, full of lightness and humour.