Tella a Fras
Reflecting on life's small yet meaningful joys
Directed by Lorenzo Francini
Words by Katie Celia Huelin
Directed by Lorenzo Francini (Loid), Tella a Fras intertwines themes of self-care within Moroccan culture and a deep passion for surfing shared by twin brothers Mouhssin and Yassin. Their journey is of sacrifice and an unbreakable bond, shaped by the struggles they faced growing up while nurturing their dream of building a surf school. Francini authentically sheds light on the concept of Tella a Fras—holistic self-care that encompasses the physical, emotional, and mental.
This heartfelt documentary allows viewers to reflect on life's small yet meaningful joys—family, perseverance, and the pursuit of personal passions.
Tella a Fras intertwines the theme of self-care within Moroccan culture with the twins' strong passion for surfing. How did you ensure that Mouhssin’s and Yassin's dreams and challenges were portrayed with the depth and respect they deserve, while seamlessly integrating the cultural significance of self-care into the narrative?
I spent 8 days together with them, completely immersing myself in their lives, with the main goal of being transported inside their days and learning the details with the ultimate goal of understanding what the term “Tella a Fras” and thus the concept of self-care really meant to them.
When you want to try to tell the story of people's lives, a way of life, or simply a thought, you have to, in my opinion, get as close as possible to those dynamics, even trying to live them if you have the chance and the time, especially when it comes to people who have grown up and live in a country with a culture totally different from yours.
In order to respect its meaning, I decided to involve Mouhssin and Yassin in every step of the creative process so that I could be sure not to go off the “rails.” Their stories, experiences and perspectives were crucial in shaping the narrative. We interviewed them repeatedly to understand their dreams, challenges, and how they perceive self-care in their daily lives and in the context of their passion for surfing.
Surfing, after all, was only a pretext to realize later that it could not and should not be the only theme to explain the concept of “Tella a Fras.” I had to dig deeper to tell their lives in an authentic and multifaceted way. Indeed, their passion for surfing was only one of the elements that contributed to their idea of self-care, which also included family ties, cultural traditions, and moments of personal reflection.
In sum, my approach was to live alongside them, learn directly from their daily lives, and ensure that every aspect of the narrative was authentic and respectful of their culture and personal experiences.
The film's cinematography is simultaneously breathtaking and intimate. How did your team choose the use of film and its distinct texture, depth and grain to so authentically capture the raw tones and colours of Morocco?
Before I left, I already had in my mind the style and look I wanted to give to the video. The goal was to tell the reality as faithfully as possible. I think the best way to do that is to shoot on film. Being a great lover of film, I decided to bring along my trusty Super8 and a few films. I would have liked to shoot the whole project on film, but unfortunately the budget and time did not allow it. So we decided to combine digital with film.
I think that also from an aesthetic point of view, alternating “clean” digital images with the “dirtier” ones of film is a great combination for storytelling and editing, especially for a documentary of this kind. In addition, since this is a video focused primarily on the world
of surfing, and having grown up watching surf documentaries, it was “mandatory” to use Super8 as well.
One of the rules behind the film, which I like to adopt in low-budget and on-the-road projects, is to use only natural light. In fact, no artificial lights were used in the film. I think I was able to achieve the best possible result by capturing and bringing out the Moroccan light in all its settings to the fullest.
Finally, the choice of color for the video gave that final push that was missing. Together with Diego, we maniacally coloured every single scene in the video. The film has a unique ability to reproduce tones and colours in a super realistic and vibrant way.
In short, the choice of film and the techniques adopted were aimed at creating a breathtaking and deeply intimate visual experience. I wanted each frame to tell a story, not only through what it shows, but also through its texture and color, transporting viewers directly into the heart of Morocco and the lives of Mousshin and Yassin.
The underlying story of sacrifice and the brothers’ unbreakable bond is powerful. Can you share how you approached representing the key aspects of their story you focused on when directing this documentary to ensure it was portrayed so honestly?
Partially I have already answered this previously, but I think the key is to immerse yourself in their daily lives, spending as much time as possible with them, not only when shooting, but especially in leisure moments, sharing as much as possible. For example, we slept for three nights together in the same room, one of which five of us huddled in a cave by the sea. These experiences were crucial to the storytelling.
Empathizing with them was crucial. Once an empathic bond was established, things developed naturally and they felt more confident in telling their thoughts, emotions and family dynamics. Speaking of family, for example, the scene inside their birth home with their mother was not planned. Culturally, they are extremely attached and devoted to family, and being able to enter their home was only possible after they realized they could trust me. Looking back, I can say that it was one of the most exciting experiences of my life.
I wanted to focus on the key moments that illustrated their sacrifice and bonding. Whether it was economic hardship, mutual support in times of crisis, or shared joy in surfing, I tried to capture those moments that best represented their resilience and unity.
I tried to adopt a visual style that reflected the intimacy of their story. The use of close- ups, close-up shots and sequences without dialogue allowed their emotions to be conveyed in a direct and powerful way. I wanted viewers to be able to feel the depth of their bond through each frame.
How did you and Tommaso Simonetta collaborate to create a soundscape that enhances the film's visuals and emotional tones? What was the process of integrating sound design to capture emotion and nostalgia; and to align the music with the pace and key moments of the documentary?
The process began with a meeting where, in addition to getting to know each other since it was the first time we were collaborating together, I explained in detail my experience and what I wanted to include in the video. Tommaso was immediately very interested and enthusiastic about collaborating on the project.
I had been following him for a while and I think he is an excellent sound designer. The thing I like about his work is that he always manages to find a way to combine so many sounds and effects, making the video engaging. The sound design had to capture emotion and nostalgia. When I handed him the project, he already had a nice range of sounds recorded directly in the field by me and Federico, but he still managed to integrate them with his artistic touch.
As for the main music for the video, I relied on Matteo, a great friend of mine as well as a musician and art director with whom I have worked closely for almost all of my works to date. Our artistic understanding greatly facilitated the creative process of the music.
I remember a particular episode in Morocco, where by pure chance I found myself involved in a typical Moroccan musical evening, with five guys playing traditional instruments. It was at that moment that I decided I wanted to include that kind of melody and sound in the video, but in an electronic and melodic key.
As soon as they started playing, I placed my cell phone next to them and recorded. I immediately sent the recording to Matteo, who happened to be in the studio composing music. Caught up in the euphoria, he improvised within the next ten minutes a draft musical track inspired by what I had sent him. That draft then became the basis for the track included in the video.
“When you want to try to tell the story of people’s lives, a way of life, or simply a thought, you have to, in my opinion, get as close as possible to those dynamics.”
Can you share with us how you maintained such authenticity throughout the production, immersing viewers in the brother’s growing-up in Morocco and their journey towards their dreams? How important was preserving this unfiltered realism to the final outcome of the documentary?
With Tella a Fras, I hope audiences can immerse themselves in the depths of Moroccan culture and understand the importance of family bonding and sacrifice. I want viewers to be inspired by Mousshin and Yassin's resilience and passion, and to recognize how the concept of self-care is intertwined with their daily lives and their passion for surfing.
I have always found the concept of self-care fascinating and have tried to pursue it according to my own vision. However, I have often perceived it as an abstract concept and difficult to define. Agreeing to take part in this project gave me the opportunity to explore a different point of view, observing how Mousshin and Yassin have successfully integrated self-care into their lives.
With Tella a Fras, my intent is to offer a new perspective on this concept, demonstrating how it can be adapted to each person and circumstance. I firmly believe that only when mind and body are aligned and healthy can we achieve what we desire and, most importantly, find happiness.
I hope viewers leave watching the film with a greater understanding of the importance of the little things in life, such as supporting one another, dedication to family, and the ability to find joy in personal passions despite difficulties.
As for my future path as a filmmaker, I am excited to continue exploring authentic and meaningful stories that highlight the beauty and complexity of the human condition. I am drawn to these kinds of themes because I feel comfortable telling them and I believe I can feel the same vibrations and emotions as the protagonists.
My goal is to continue to create documentaries that not only inform, but also deeply touch the hearts of viewers, prompting them to reflect and act.
A project for Surftwins
Produced & Directed by Lorenzo Francini
Shot by Lorenzo Francini & Federico Conte
Edited by Elia Tombacco
Music// Matteo Duan
Sound Design// Tommaso Simonetta
Color// Diego La Rosa
Graphics// Mattia Pecora
Super8 Operator// Lorenzo Francini
Talent// Mouhssin Kharbouch & Yassin Kharbouch