In 90 seconds, young Palestinian director Omar Rammal recounts 73 years of Israeli occupation and eviction of Palestinian families. 90 seconds of distress, during which a Palestinian family’s candid testimonies, with each member showing us their favourite place in their home, are set against the violence of Israeli settlers who, at the same time, are busily emptying every room with chilling speed and frenzy. The mother describes why her kitchen is so dear to her; the father in the garden shows us the olive tree inherited from his grandfather; in her bedroom their small daughter talks about her favourite games. The settlers meanwhile are taking care of packing up their luggage.
“Al-Makan” (The Place) sums up the plight of the Palestinians in just a minute and a half. The short film seen by several million people clearly echoes recent events in Jerusalem, in the neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarra, where several Palestinian families, settled for generations, were evicted from their homes overnight by the Israeli police. “Palestinians aren’t even safe in their own home [when precisely it is] supposed to be the safest place possible,” Omar Rammal said in an interview with Jordan News.
Omar Rammal, a filmmaker committed to defending human rights
In a tweet, the 23-year-old Palestinian director explains what his short film symbolizes: “The place is us … our presence … our memories and our future plans.”
This is not Omar Rammal’s first short film tackling a sensitive issue. Committed to defending human rights, he made “Hajez”, a film in a similar format about a Palestinian family in difficulties at an Israeli checkpoint during the festival of Eid. Previously he had been awarded a grant from the Royal Film Commission of Jordan.
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Sources: royanews.tv, jordannews.jo
