synopsis
It is painful enough simply to have to leave one’s place of origin, as was the case of Ali Al Azhari in 1948 during the displacement of Palestinian villages following the establishment of the State of Israel. It can be even more harrowing when there is nowhere to return to, as settlement in question no longer exists. In this exploratory documentary, Ali, accompanied by the director and the cameraman, sets out after decades on a journey back to the site of the former village of Saffuriya, where, although no people live there any longer, life otherwise thrives in abundance. Ali can name the biological species of every plant, every tree and every bush. He touches them all and tastes them. They are his old acquaintances.“If some people see themselves as a fly on the wall, I see myself as a fly in the soup!” — Avi Mograbi
Source: Cineaste
biography
Avi Mograbi (1956) is an Israeli-Portuguese documentary filmmaker and artist living in Lisbon. He has gained international attention for his formally experimental and self-reflexive approach to addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Notable works in his filmography include Z32 (2008) and Avenge but One of My Two Eyes (2005).film details
| director: | Avi Mograbi |
| cast: | Ali Al Azhari |
| producer: | Annie Ohayon-Dekel |
| photography: | Philippe Bellaiche |
Film at festival
| premiere type: | Czech Premiere |
| festival edition: | 2026 |
| section: | Constellations |
| language: | Hebrew |
| subtitles: | English, Czech |
| colour: | Colour |
