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Your new movie The Last
Front - in a few words, what's it about?
The
Last Front is about courage, loss, and unbreakable defiance in the face of
occupation. It follows a farmer, played by Iain Glen, who transforms into
a reluctant hero, leading his village against a German invasion after the
murder of his son. It’s a war story, yes, but it’s also a fierce
testament to love, vengeance and the lengths we go to protect what matters most.
What were your sources of inspiration when writing The
Last Front, and what kind of research did you do on the subject at
hand? The
inspiration came from the overlooked personal stories of wartime
resilience. I immersed myself in World War I memoirs, diaries and
historical accounts—right down to daily routines and trench slang. This
wasn’t just about dates and battles, it was about digging into what made
people endure. The challenge was to humanize the past while remaining
faithful to history’s raw brutality. What can you tell us about your co-writer Kate
Wood, and what was your collaboration like? Kate
is a powerhouse. She brings this beautiful balance of meticulous
historical detail and genuine heart to every page. Our sessions were full
of debates, rewrites, and lots of coffee-fueled arguments about what makes
characters tick. She kept me on my toes and pushed the story into deeper
waters than I’d ever anticipated. We made each other better, no doubt
about it. What were
the particular challenges of bringing a World War I drama to the screen,
and did you take any stylistic liberties when trying to portray the era? Recreating
World War I was a monster of a task, from trenches to period-accurate
props. We strived for authenticity, but I wanted the audience to feel more
than history—I wanted them to breathe it. So yes, there are stylistic
flourishes: heightened lighting during pivotal moments, subjective camera
work to pull viewers straight into the chaos. The goal was emotional
immersion, not just historical recreation.
When portraying any war really, it's hard to not show some violence and cruelty
- so how far did you go in that direction, and was there ever a line for
you you refused to cross, visually? Violence
is inevitable in a war story, but it’s never the star of the show here.
It serves as a gut-punch reminder of what’s at stake. There were moments
we pulled back intentionally—when brutality crossed from meaning to
spectacle, I knew we’d gone too far. Every shot needed to have emotional
weight, not shock value. Do talk about your
overall directorial approach to your story at hand! I
wanted The
Last Front to feel raw and real, so I opted for a blend of
gritty realism and deeply personal moments. My goal was for audiences to
feel the weight of fear, and the fleeting moments of hope. I leaned
heavily into character beats to balance the action—letting silence say
as much as gun firing. What
can you tell us about The
Last Front's key cast, and why exactly these people? Iain
Glen brings gravitas to every moment on screen—he’s the beating heart
of this story. Sasha Luss is both strong and heartbreakingly human. Each
actor brought layers of vulnerability and strength, creating chemistry
that turned scenes electric. This cast poured their souls into these
roles, and it shows.
A few words about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere? Intense.
We had brutal weather, exhausting battle sequences, and tight schedules,
but the dedication was unparalleled. There were tough days, but a shared
belief in this story pulled us through. Collaboration was key, and there
were moments of humor and humanity that kept us all sane. I’m deeply
proud of the team. The
$64-question of course, where can The
Last Front be seen? It’s
been making its way through theaters in the Benelux via Dutch Filmworks
and recently hit UK and Irish screens. U.S. audiences saw it over the
summer, thanks to Enigma Releasing. Streaming releases internationally
will be announced soon. Anything you can tell us
about audience and critical reception of The
Last Front? The
response has honestly been humbling. Seeing people moved by this story,
feeling the weight of the characters’ choices—it’s everything a
filmmaker hopes for. Critics have praised its authenticity and emotional
resonance. It’s a reminder of why we tell stories in the first place.
Any future projects you'd like to
share? I’m
deep into a few projects right now, including a biopic and a couple of
ambitious historical dramas. I have a passion for stories that challenge
and inspire—watch this space! What got you into filmmaking in the first place,
and did you receive any formal training on the subject? I’ve
always been fascinated by cinema’s power to move people, to shake them
up inside. While I didn’t come through a traditional route, my
“school” was the set. Learning by doing, collaborating with mentors,
and failing often—that was my education. What
can you tell us about your filmwork prior to The
Last Front? Before
this, I explored themes like resilience and identity in narrative shorts
and features. Each project, big or small, taught me something vital. They
paved the way for a story of this scale and complexity. How would you describe yourself as a
director?
I’m obsessed with detail, from the smallest prop to the emotional beats of a
scene. I strive to blend operatic scope with raw, human moments. Every
frame has to have purpose, every character a story worth telling.
Filmmakers who inspire you? Steven
Spielberg, for his larger-than-life stories. Christopher Nolan, for making
complexity accessible. And Ingmar Bergman, for diving deep into human emotion. Your
favourite movies? Schindler’s List, Inception and
The Thin Red Line. They’re masterclasses in
storytelling and execution. ... and of course films you really deplore?
I’ve never connected with surface-level comedy—if it doesn’t dig deep, it
doesn’t hit me. But that’s just my taste! Your/your movie's website, social media, whatever else?
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Catch updates and behind-the-scenes insights on my Instagram @officialhayetkerknawi Anything else you're dying to mention and
I have merely forgotten to ask? This
film wouldn’t exist without an incredible team. Filmmaking is about
collaboration, and I’m grateful to everyone who believed in The
Last Front. I can’t wait to see how it continues to resonate with audiences. Thanks for the
interview!
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