The International Short Film Festival in Rio de Janeiro, on view from April 25 to 30, will screen two productions in Arabic: the Jordanian short “Setback of the Spirit” and the Iraqi “Stigma”. As reported by Anba (Brazil-Arab News Agency), the two films are part of a menu of 29 foreign films from 22 countries, broadcast for free on the event’s YouTube channel. The festival, which is in its second edition, also exhibits 58 national productions. In the case of these two films in Arabic, there is no need to wait for the event. Both are now available for free on the internet.
“Setback of the Spirit”, directed by Sa’ed Arouri, tells the story of a Palestinian lady who returns to her home. It is understood during the 15-minute film that she had to leave her home in 1967, when Israel took over the West Bank. Although it is unclear, the story appears to be set in a hypothetical future after the end of the Israeli occupation. The woman returns home with her grandson.
The story is a stark commentary on the lives of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians expelled during the creation of Israel in 1948 and during the Six Day War in 1967. The return of these people is one of the main obstacles to resolving the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis. Palestinians demand that refugees be allowed to return to their land, while Israelis today reject this possibility.
The Iraqi short “Stigma” also deals with a fundamental theme in the region’s history: the lives of those who refused to fight for Saddam Hussein’s regime during the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991. The film portrays their resistance and cruel government revenge. Director Jaafar Muraad puts the focus on trauma. According to the short, more than 5,000 people were detained in the crackdown, 450 in the city of Basra alone.
Source: Folha
