The 49th edition of the Montpellier Mediterranean Film Festival (Cinemed) takes place from October 18 to 26, 2024. This year, Gaza is represented through various films in the festival program, highlighting the region's realities and stories.
Selected films include Voyage to Gaza by Italian director Piero Osperti, Vibrations of Gaza by Palestinian filmmaker Rehab Nazzal, and The Tomb of Drunken Love, co-directed by Lebanese filmmakers Khalil Joreige and Joana Hadjithomas. These films reflect a wide array of perspectives on Gaza, blending personal experiences with collective narratives.
"Trip to Gaza" (Piero Usberti, Italy): This documentary follows the Italian director during a three-month stay in Gaza in the spring of 2018. It focuses on the lives of young Palestinians, exploring their hopes, daily struggles, and resistance under the conditions imposed by the Israeli blockade. Usberti sheds light on characters like Sara, a humanitarian worker; Mohanad, a communist activist; and Jumana, a law student. Through their stories, he aims to depict a Gaza that contrasts with common media portrayals, highlighting the reality of occupation and the fight for human rights.
"Vibrations of Gaza" (Rehab Nazzal, Palestine): This experimental film captures the daily life of Gaza's residents by focusing on the city’s sounds and vibrations as a means of portraying the prevailing tensions and hopes. The Palestinian director uses her work to showcase the beauty and tragedy of Gaza while emphasizing the importance of collective memory and culture as tools of resistance.
"The Tomb of Drunken Love" (Khalil Joreige and Joana Hadjithomas, Lebanon): This feature film blurs the line between art and political reality, narrating an impossible love story set against the backdrop of conflict. The two directors, known for their poetic and politically engaged approach, examine the impact of struggles and wars on human relationships, exploring the intersection of collective and individual memory.