(no) laughing matter
Convinced that humour knows no frontiers, young filmmaker Vanessa Rousselot embarks on an unusual quest: to search for humour in the West Bank. At first she finds only disillusionment – “our whole situation is a joke”. But little by little, Rousselot uncovers and reveals Palestine’s own vibrant culture of humour, one that occasionally challenges conventional expectations. From inane stories mocking the residents of Hebron (the classic butts of Palestinian jokes) to self-deprecating political quips and bittersweet anecdotes about the absurdity of everyday life, the director’s investigation plunges her deep into Palestine’s peculiar comedic universe, one in which bright glimmers of hope and humanity endure in the shadow of conflict.
Screening with...
Cinema Palestine
Dir. Tim Schwab | 2011 | Canada | 30mins
Cinema Palestine is the working title for this documentary which explores the life and work of multiple generations of Palestinian filmmakers and media artists. Based on in-depth interviews with a wide range of Palestinian artist living in the Middle East as well as North America and Europe, the film explores the emergence of a Palestinian narrative through film, the relevance of film to the Palestinian national struggle and the relationship between art, personal experience and politics in one of the most contested landscapes in the world.
This presentation will feature excerpts from interviews with and films by Palestinian filmmakers as well as a Q&A session.
Cinema Palestino season ticket
See all the films in the Cinema Palestino season for just £25 (£20 concessions).
Call Box Office to book: 0114 275 7727