Nayla Al Khaja: ‘All My Movies Are About Mental Health’

by Alexandra Mansilla

Nayla Al Khaja, the Film Director: ‘All My Movies Are About Mental Health’

8 Jan 2025

Honestly, I have no idea how Nayla Al Khaja managed to find time in her packed schedule for our Zoom call, but she did, and I am incredibly grateful for it. For those who somehow aren’t familiar with Nayla’s work yet, let me fill you in: she is an incredible woman — the first female film director in the United Arab Emirates.

Her films are all about psychological horror, delving into themes of mental health, and are often inspired by her personal stories, which are really hard ones. What kinds of stories? How hard was it for her to break into the film industry as a woman? What is her new film Baab about? And what personal story does it reveal?

Nayla Al Khaja answered all of these questions and more.

— From looking at the list of your works and reading your interviews, it is clear that you love horror and have always been passionate about it. So, an obvious question: Could you name a horror movie that has impressed you recently?

— I want to point out that there are nearly nine different categories of horror, and the list keeps expanding. There are so many subgenres within this category. For example, I absolutely hate and will never watch genres that involve bodily harm — I really don’t like them.

Psychological horror is the one that interests me. It is really about the human condition when faced with life’s atrocities and how people can surprise themselves by behaving completely out of their norm.

It is hard for me to pick a favourite one, but I can tell you about one that feels closer to my taste or the ones I appreciate artistically. For me, maybe Roman Polanski's Rosemary's Baby fits that description.

— Wow. And you definitely know the story behind this movie, right?

— Yes. It is very, very, very dark.

— Was there ever a horror movie you watched that left you so scared you couldn’t sleep without the lights on? Or maybe a movie that made you feel anxious for a long time afterwards?

— Oh, I think it is Paranormal Activity.

— Oh no, even if I hear the name of this movie, I am scared.

— Oh yes, it is very scary. I was very young at the time and watched it by myself. It was dark, and I was in a bedroom. The entire movie takes place in a house, mostly in a bedroom, which made it feel even more unsettling.

— Now, let us talk about your movies. I would like to discuss Animal (2016), which is available on Netflix. I watched it, and honestly, it left me feeling so anxious afterwards. I was wondering if it was inspired by something from your personal experience. What is the story behind this movie?

— Animal is based on a true story, an incident involving a family member who went through that experience. I was actually exposed to it a lot.

Animal (2016). Source: IMDb

—Talking about your journey, you mentioned that you “had challenges with family but overcame them with persistence.” Could you tell me more about these challenges?

— I was the first female director in my country. There were no role models or examples for people to look to and feel reassured. My family was uncomfortable with the idea that their child was entering an industry that was largely unknown, had a questionable reputation, and wasn’t considered particularly safe for women — as we later saw with the Me Too movement.

They were very anxious about me pursuing this path at such a young age. They knew how often people in this industry were taken advantage of, and I think their concerns came from a place of love and protection. However, it was expressed in an overly controlling way, and it became a constant battle for me to study or work in the film industry. They were completely against it and resisted extremely hard.

At one point, I was cut off and ostracised for five years. There was no communication between us because they gave me an ultimatum: either choose your family or film. My answer was, "Why should I have to choose? I want both. One is a career, and the other is my family." But they were adamant.

Now, of course, things are different, but it was a very tough journey. It wasn’t easy to break into film. I had to fight hard to study it and follow my dreams.

— Who was more against, your mom or your dad?

— Oh, very much both. I think my dad was a little bit more so, but my mom wasn’t thrilled either. She wanted me to pursue something else.

— What did they want you to be?

— My mom thought maybe I would end up doing something different. She said something like, you know, not taking work so seriously or working in a completely different field. My dad, on the other hand, wanted me to be a teacher. So, yeah, film wasn’t something they had in mind at all.

Three (2024). Source: IMDb

— Your words: "I am very keen on mental health because I’ve seen it destroy families." Could you share what you have witnessed?

— Actually, all my movies are about mental health — every single one. Whether it is the main focus or part of a subplot, mental health always plays a significant role in my films. It is not necessarily about the broad topic of mental health itself but more about how mental well-being is challenged through circumstances.

For example, my new film, Baab, is about the five stages of grief, which lead to a mental breakdown. In Three, it explores a slight case of schizophrenia. With Animal, as you can see, it is about the well-being and mental health of the child, the family, and even the mother.

So, in all the films I have directed, mental health is either a byproduct or the main focus. Somehow, it always finds its way into my work. I think this is because I had a very, very difficult childhood, which caused a lot of anxiety and insecurity. Creating these films has become a way for me to express myself.

Source: IMDb

— If you don’t mind me asking, could you share a bit about your childhood? Why was it difficult?

— Sorry, I would rather keep that private.

— Sure. I also have a question about Baab. It is said that Baab is very personal to you. Could you tell me more about it?

— I was really inspired by the story of my aunt, who passed away, and the immense love the family had for her. I heard that her husband never touched any of her belongings or her room. He kept everything exactly as it was. Even after she passed, no one was allowed to touch anything in her room.

There was something very haunting and deeply moving about that. It inspired me to think about how the death of someone really close to you impacts you as a person. Of course, it affects your mental health, but it also raises the question of how you cope with grief.

Grieving is, in many ways, a very lonely experience because the meaning one person holds for you can be completely different from what they mean to others. For example, someone could be your entire world, but the person right next to you may not feel that same deep connection or empathy for your loss. So, grieving becomes a deeply personal and isolating experience. I thought this was a very interesting and emotional topic to explore in a movie.

— And again, about mental health — since you cover it a lot in your movies, I would like to ask a bit about yourself. How do you maintain your own mental health in daily life?

— You might not believe this, but I actually really like comedy. I love watching funny things, whether it is reels or stand-up comedians. I enjoy it so much! I am also surrounded by very funny people — like my driver, who is actually a comedian.

I think laughter is incredibly important. In daily life, there are so many wonderful and positive feelings that come from joy and jokes. It brings people closer together.

I just want to say that the way to conquer negativity is by surrounding yourself with people who lift you up rather than break you down.

— I totally agree with you. Do you happen to have any works — maybe movies or scripts — that are still "on the shelf" and haven’t been released for some reason?

— Yes, indeed. I have a movie — the one you watched, Animal. I actually have the long version, which is an hour and a half.

Why didn’t I release it? I am just not ready. It is very emotional, and I think I need more time before I can share it.

— Wow, I would really love to see it. Okay, and maybe one day you would like to make a movie that highlights certain problems or issues in the world. Are there any particular topics or issues you would love to cover through your work? And how would you like to do it?

— I think through fantasy, really. I like fantasy because it allows you to escape while also tackling any topic in a broader and more imaginative way.

It is still a bit early, but I would like to explore expressing the horrors and injustices of the world through the lens of horror — capturing real-life horrors through the medium of horror.

That said, I have never really been a political voice. It is more about being a social voice. I’m particularly interested in addressing social injustices.

— When will we see Baab?

— In my mind right now… it is this year, May. We are shooting in January.

by Alexandra Mansilla

Nayla Al Khaja, the Film Director: ‘All My Movies Are About Mental Health’

8 Jan 2025

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by Alexandra Mansilla

Nayla Al Khaja, the Film Director: ‘All My Movies Are About Mental Health’

8 Jan 2025

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