Territories & The Edge of Hope
Visual poetry used to explore the work of two media artists from Canada and Palestine, respectively.
Concordia University (Montreal)
Monday October 27, 2008
Screening begins 19h30
Venue: Room H-110, 1455 de maisonneuve
Mary Ellen Davis / Canada / 2007 / 64 min & Gerd Schneider / Germany/Palestine / 2006 / 52 min
This double-bill screening is co-sponsored by Tadamon! Filmmaker Mary Ellen Davis will be in attendance.
Click here to read an article about the film featured in Concordia's independent student newspaper, The Link.
SYNOPSIS - TERRITORIES: A giant in the world of documentary photography, Larry Towell has garnered several top-level honors, including the 2005 Priz Nadar and the first Henri Cartier-Bresson Award. This program follows Towell as he uses his camera to confront foreboding landscapes and shed light on struggling communities—drawing parallels between the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the militarization of the U.S.-Mexico border. Towell also reflects on the creative process, offers insight into the photojournalist’s trade, and describes his experiences as an eyewitness to the 9/11 attack on New York City. His thoughtful commentary accompanies numerous examples of his work.
SYNOPSIS - THE EDGE OF HOPE: With the disengagement of the Jewish settlers on 17th April 2005 begins a new chapter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but most Palestinians do not believe that the withdrawal will change the general situation. Though both sides have had their fill of violence, it is clear that the Israeli occupation has been an hotbed for numerous extremists and brutal acts of revenge. The Palestinian situation is characterized by injustice and helplessness. "The Edge of Hope" focuses on a 35 year old Palestinian named Ramadan, who was born in a refugee-camp and is still living there even though he has a good job: He is camera-operator for Al-Jazeera at the Ramallah office of the well-known Arabian network. The camera gives him the feeling of producing something meaningful while his homeland is caught in daily absurdities. "Daily life" has a completely different meaning in Palestine. Narrated by Ramadan, the film delivers insight into a life under occupation. It’s a life running in circles, with hope for better times but no belief that these will come - it's the edge of hope.
CREDITS - TERRITORIES:
Mary Ellen Davis bio: The Devil's Dream 1992, Tierra Madre 1996, Mexico Dead or Alive 1996, Haunted Land 2002, Territories 2007, A Day in Palestine 2007, Los Musicos 2007. Part-time instructor at the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema, Concordia University. Program advisor for the film and video section of the First Peoples' Festival Présence autochtone. Coordinator for Palestinian Perspectives.
CREDITS - THE EDGE OF HOPE:
Gerd Schneider (1974, Germany) studied Catholic Theology and Philosophy at Friedrich-Wilhelm-University in Bonn and at the University of Wien. From 1998 to 2000, Gerd completed several training courses in theatre and film (Schauspiel Bonn, Müller & Selig-Filmproduction, Columbia Tri-Star and others). Since 2000, he has studied Film & Media and Directing at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. "The Edge of Hope" is his graduation at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg.
