Whenever war movies show people’s houses being destroyed and people being murdered, we feel sad even though they are fictional characters. It is hard to imagine whether this happens in real life. Unfortunately, what we see in movies, actually is the reality for millions of people in the world. The enemy of humanity makes the innocent suffer the most. At this very moment, hundreds of people are losing their homes and loved ones while the world is watching. Little can be done from our sides, that is spreading awareness and educating ourselves on the matter. That is why this blog post shines a light on the current situation in Palestine and lists 3 films and documentary recommendations to enlighten your knowledge on the lives Palestinians are living.
- Killing Gaza 2018
(Documentary)
Two journalists Max Blumenthal and Dan Cohen filmed a documentary in 2018 following the aftermath of Israel’s attacks on Gaza. The documentary shows more than just the resilience and suffering of the Palestinians: it features first-hand testimony and proof from the survivors about the assaults committed by Israel’s army. On 15 May, the journalists tweeted that the film is now displayed for free.
2. Omar 2013
(Thriller, Romance)
Omar is a Palestinian drama film from 2013 directed by Hany Abu-Assad. It won the Special Jury Prize during the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and in the same year was shown at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film is about a young Palestinian man called Omar (Adam Bakri) who is a baker and spends his free time training for his independent secret association he is in with two other childhood friends. After the death of an Israeli soldier, Omar gets arrested. He gets into prison, where he talks with a fellow prisoner that introduces him to work as an informant. The movie follows his story further where he is in the middle of a war with no end and torn in a dilemma between fighting for the freedom of Palestine and his personal desires.
3. The present 2020
(Drama, Short film)
The present is a short film from 2020 directed by Farah Nabulsi. The story is about Yusuf (Saleh Bakri) who goes to the store with his daughter to buy an anniversary gift for his wife. However, in the West Bank, there is not much freedom to do such a task. In the film, we follow Yusuf in his quest of buying a gift which requires lots of patience and negotiation skills. With The present, Nabulsi tries to show us the daily difficulties and struggles Palestinians face under violent occupation in their own land.
*Currently the film is not available on Netflix in The Netherlands
It is important that we spread awareness and educate ourselves on what is happening in the world, in this case Palestine. Share this article with friends and family to show them how life in Palestine is. Let us know in the comments what you think about the films, and share your suggestions too!
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Cinema Fusion 