Director Rojda Sekersöz on her film about gang crime and personal gun fear

Swedish director Rojda Sekersöz discusses her latest film, "Blir du ledsen om jag dör?" (Will You Be Sad If I Die?), which tackles the sensitive subject of youth gang crime. The film, based on Nicolas Lunabba's successful novel, tells the true story of a young man in Malmö navigating dreams of becoming a writer while trying to help a talented basketball player whose friends are drawn into gang violence.

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I didn't feel comfortable having a pistol at home.

Sekersöz admitted initial hesitation about adapting the true story, concerned about capturing its essence within a limited film runtime. However, she received full trust from the producers, screenwriter, and Lunabba himself. The film, set to premiere on August 21, explores the core message that societal direction is everyone's responsibility.

Reflecting on her personal life, Sekersöz revealed a significant fear of guns, triggered even by fireworks. This fear led her to abandon plans for a firearm license, as she was uncomfortable with the requirement to own and store a gun at home. "I didn't feel comfortable having a pistol at home," she stated.

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Society's direction is everyone's responsibility, that is the core of the film. Society is not a higher power, it is all of us as individuals who are society. And that is very hopeful because it means that you and I can do something.

Despite her professional focus on film, Sekersöz confessed to not being a "film buff" and having a "cultural complex" regarding her film knowledge. She emphasized that the film's central theme is about collective responsibility, asserting that society is not an external force but is shaped by individuals. This perspective offers a hopeful outlook, suggesting that personal actions can contribute to change alongside broader structural reforms.

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I am very afraid of guns. Every time I hear fireworks, I flinch and feel bad. You might almost think I grew up in a war zone.