Losing Flowers For All Occasions – A film poem by Meetra Javed

Losing Flowers For All Occasions began as a poem written by Meetra Javed. It was written in fragments after a dream she had about waking up on Earth unable to find flowers anywhere because the terrain of the world had dried up from overheating. In the dream, she found herself in a graveyard that was completely barren, overlooking the loss of loved ones. In an attempt to retain sacred hopefulness and preserve beauty as a survivor, she searched for flowers long and far to put on the graves, but none were to be found. 

Luckily it was a dream - which led to a poem - which led to an experimental film. The experimental film was formed through a commission by Atmos that led to an idea; if we continue at the rate we have been treating the Earth, this extreme and abstract utopia may not be as far as we think. The poem itself is a subtle nod to climate change while acknowledging our responsibility to be “better selves”. She writes: “Flowers unbiased show the same love on every grave, and you, me, us, them, aren’t we all the same?” 

Working with sustainable architect Ashley Kochiss to scout locations, it was shot in Greenwood Cemetery and industrial and polluted parts of New Jersey by the Director of Photography, Josh Olley. Museum pieces were also used in the film by sustainable textile artist Shrahda Kochar, whose work focuses around regenerative systems (Weeping Knees). Meetra cast twins Sirat and Mannat Kaur, as well as Jae Kim. The composition was done by Sal Romano, and the editor also shot some of the imagery, Giles Pates. It was shot entirely on 16mm Kodak Film.

This is Meetra’s first experimental film. 

Director, Writer, EP: Meetra Javed, @meeetraaa
Director of Photography: Josh Olley @joshua.olley
Lead Editor, Titles, 2nd Cam: Giles Pates @gilespates
Photography & Set: Jae Kim @bogusluck
Cast: Sirat Kaur, Mannat Kaur @s.irat @m.a.nn.at @bogusluck 
Producer: Billy Javed @bil_jajajaved
Locations Lead/Sustainable Architect: Ashley Kochiss @akochiss
Costumes/‘Weeping Knees’ Museum Piece: Shradha Kochhar @shradhakochhar
Composer: Sal Ramano @sallyboy2k