‘Me Are You’ is a personal short film exploring the emotional inheritance of toxic masculinity and generational trauma in a Middle Eastern family. When my grandfather passes away, it triggers my father’s grief, unravelling decades of unspoken emotional pain. My father struggles with the weight of all that was never said between him and his father while I confront my own understanding of masculinity, love, and vulnerability. Through intimate interviews with my father and observational moments, the film traces patterns of emotional repression—often disguised as love—that have shaped their relationship and those of previous generations.

I embark on a journey to understand how my family’s emotional legacy has affected them while trying to bridge the gap left by my grandfather’s death. The film also examines the intersection of cultural expectations and generational trauma, questioning: Can love, if never fully expressed, become a burden rather than a gift? In my exploration, I grapple with the trauma inherited by my father and seek to break the cycle, creating space for vulnerability and healing.