From Nov. 1 to Nov. 3, the St. Olaf community was given the opportunity to watch four films during the Students for Justice in Palestine’s Film Festival, with traditional Palestinian food offered on the final day. This festival included: “The Dupes” directed by Tewfik Saleh, “Upshot” directed by Maha Haj, “A State of Passion” directed by Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi, and “Jenin, Jenin” directed by Mohammad Bakri. A panel concluded the end of “Jenin, Jenin,” with Director of Film and Media Studies Linda Mokdad, Professor of Sociology and Anthropology Ibtesam Al Atiyat, and Carleton’s Professor and Specialist of Arabic Literature Zaki Haidar.
I was able to see three out of the four films and attend the panel. These films not only spoke of the tragedy that is occurring in Palestine, but showcased the brilliant and talented filmmakers coming out of Palestine as well. The event was produced with respect and curiosity, which made the space both welcoming and educational. The films were ones that felt like they could be digestible to the masses. This theme made them feel tangible, making the film selection of the night an even better addition to the whole event.
Out of all the films, I was struck by the first film of the second day of the festival, “Upshot.” This was a 30-minute short film that told the story of a future after Gaza has been destroyed and families have to deal with the aftermath of the war. The story did not center on the horror of war, though. Instead, it centered around a husband and wife just moving through life, but the premise of the film — as well as the composition of many of the shots — made this 30-minute short film so utterly compelling.
The other two films I watched were documentaries of the current time within Gaza. One was about a plastic surgeon saving lives in Palestine, and the other was an older film about the destruction of refugee camps within the area of Palestine. These films showed the brutal truth of the war, past and present.
All of these films spread light on what is happening, but what really stood out to me was the brutal honesty of the professor panel after the final screening. This is a difficult subject. At the end of the day, they are topics that must be spoken on, and I commend the professors for putting opinions and words out in the open like this. These films were not all empty promises — they were pleas for a better future. There was devastation and grief, and the panel that followed after the films spoke on that reality in a way that not only helped the crowd understand what they had just watched, but also found a way to not create empty promises with their own actions.
It was an exceptionally well-done festival that highlighted the two needs of the world, but also the intense creativity of this horror-stricken part of the world.
