One of the most renowned Palestinian documentary filmmakers returns to footage he shot in Gaza in 2001, taking us on a remarkable journey through time, experiencing the pulse of life in a place that no longer exists. From seaside beaches to bustling bazaars, chaotic streets, and the charred ruins of bombed houses, the film captures the feverish rhythm of existence on the edge, steeped in a constant sense of anticipation.
In his latest film, Kamal Aljafari, one of the most renowned Palestinian documentary filmmakers, returns to material he shot in Gaza in 2001, where, accompanied by the titular guide, he tries to find a friend he’d met in an Israeli prison. Now, a quarter of a century later, he tries to reinterpret the past of a place that has ceased to exist. Aljafari’s documentary takes us on an amazing journey through time, truly pulsing with the life of the enclave. From the seaside beaches to the raucous bazaars, the crazy street traffic and burnt-out ruins of bombed houses - everywhere you can feel the feverish atmosphere of life on the edge, in a vague sense of expectation. The city's residents have become so accustomed to war that most can recognize whether an explosion is "ours" or "theirs" by sound alone.
Konrad Wirkowski
2025 Locarno FF: Europa Cinemas Label Award
2025 TIFF
2025 BFI London FF
2025 New York FF
2025 IDFA