Alex Bakri

festival

Sun 26 Apr 26 - Fri 1 May 26

documentary

26 Apr

14:15

Brugge

Cinema Lumière

Tickets
28 Apr

17:45

Brugge

Cinema Lumière

Tickets
29 Apr

14:15

Turnhout

UGC

Tickets
1 May

11:00

Turnhout

UGC

Tickets

The harrowing and touching story of Hussein, the old operator of an old movie theatre in Jenin.

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Hussein Darby, a 59-year-old Palestinian and the last film operator of Jenin Cinema, has spent nearly his entire life maintaining reels of film and machines. When a German NGO, led by Marcus Vetter, wants to renovate the movie theatre, Hussein happily assists. But then Franz, a young German film operator is flown in “to train the local population”.

This touching documentary is not only the moving portrayal of an old operator, but also provides a critical perspective on how NGO’s operate in Palestine, without any control over the results or transparency on the way of working. They just do anything, without involving the Palestinians. The different time periods and storylines intertwine organically and make for a perfect pacing. A documentary that warm heartedly shows Hussein’s passion and dedication, turning it into an homage, while at the same time holding up a mirror, visualising how we westerners – despite good intentions – install new forms of colonialism. A warning…