A Play Before the Bombs

2021 | Documentary Short | 12 min
by Roger Hill
SYNOPSIS

A behind-the-scenes look at the creative pursuits of young Gazans preparing to put on a play at the al Mishal Cultural Center; neither the play nor the playhouse can escape the omnipresence of the Israeli siege on Gaza.

SUMMARY

Primarily set in the al-Mishal Cultural Center in Gaza (before it was destroyed on August 9, 2018), A Play Before The Bombs is a story that unfolds over a 4 year period. The film provides a behind-the-scenes look at the creative pursuits of Abeer Ahmed, a young woman growing up in the Jabaliya Refugee Camp, as she and the other members of her cast and crew prepare to put on a play that focuses on a Palestinian woman’s right to receive inheritance. While the content of the play is tailored towards fostering a cultural discussion among Palestinians, neither the play nor the playhouse can escape the omnipresence of the Israeli siege on Gaza. A siege that shatters literal buildings as well as the hopes and dreams of the performers and community members who take refuge within the walls of Al-Mishal in search of artistic fulfillment.

GALLERY
2021 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS