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Screening will start at 12:00 Noon US EDT; 19:00 Palestine; 17:00 UK.; 18:00 Europe. Duration: 1 H: 49 M; Arabic with English subtitles; 1975. The film screening will be followed by a discussion with the audience.
About the Film
The film Kafr Kassem (1975), directed by Lebanese filmmaker Borhane Alaouié, is a landmark work of Arab cinema that reconstructs the tragic historical events of the 1956 Kafr Qasim massacre.
On the eve of the Israeli invasion of Egypt in 1956, the Israeli military imposed a sudden curfew on various Arab villages without providing adequate notice to the residents. The film follows the villagers of Kafr Qasim as they return home from their fields, entirely unaware of the newly declared curfew. Upon encountering the military, the villagers—who were simply attempting to return to their families and maintain a sense of normalcy under occupation—are trapped and subsequently killed.
The film is noted for its "fictional realism," using a documentary-like, newsreel aesthetic to depict the events with near-scientific accuracy based on official transcripts and records. Rather than focusing solely on the violence, Alaouié portrays the everyday lives, humor, and humanity of the townspeople, creating a poignant contrast with the impending tragedy.
Borhane Alaouié (1941–2021)
About the Director
Life: Borhane Alaouié (1941–2021) was a prominent Lebanese writer and film director. Born in the village of Arnoun in southern Lebanon, he moved to Belgium to study film directing at the National High Institute of Theatrical Arts, graduating in 1970.
Career: He was a significant figure in Arab "engaging cinema". His career spanned five decades, during which he directed both feature films and documentaries that often dealt with themes of war, exile, and the Palestinian struggle.
Wikipedia
Notable Works: Beyond Kafr Kassem (his feature debut), he is well-known for Beirut the Encounter (1981) and various documentaries, including It Is Not Enough for God to Be with the Poor (1978).