In her relentless pursuit of a memory that reinforces her sense of belonging, the director forms a bond with a parkour athlete named Ahmed. Together, they navigate the remnants of Gaza, exploring places like a cemetery, a run-down mall, and what used to be an airport. As their relationship deepens, Ahmed reveals the harsh realities of life in Gaza, transforming Areeb's initial curiosity into a profound awareness of the struggles he faces. Areeb grapples with feelings of guilt and conflict as she witnesses Ahmed’s desire to escape the confines of his homeland, understanding the emotional void such a departure would entail. Their journey becomes not only a quest to reclaim memories but also an exploration of identity, belonging, and the haunting legacy of a home left behind.
Sweden, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Palestine 2024, '89
DIRECTOR: Areeb Zuaiter
SCENARIO: Areeb Zuaiter, Phil Jandaly
CAMERA: Ibrahim Al-Otla, Marco Padoan, Umit Gulsen
MONTAGE: Phil Jandaly
MUSIC: Diab Mekari
PRODUCERS: Basel Mawlawi
PRODUCTION: Kinana Films
FESTIVALS & AWARDS:
DOC NYC: Wond the grand jury prize (2024)
Berlinale (2025)
Areeb Zuaiter
Areeb Zuaiter is a multinational filmmaker based in Washington, D.C. Her work focuses on art, identity, and social issues. She holds an MA in Film and Video from American University. Zuaiter’s work had won multiple international awards. Her debut short, Stained, won the Jury Award at Beirut’s European International Film Festival. Her documentary, Colors of Resistance, was nominated for Sony’s Outstanding Thesis Award and won multiple awards at the Colorado Activism Film Festival and the Spotlight Documentary Film Awards. Zuaiter had previously worked at the Associated Press, and served a Goldman Sachs Film and Video Fellow at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Zuaiter lead the Regional Training Department at the Royal Film Commission — Jordan, and taught at several universities in Washington, DC. In addition to working on her films, Zuaiter heads the programming department at the Amman International Film Festival (AIFF).
