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Al-Ahram Weekly
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
The moral high ground
A few months into the war on Gaza, following the 7 October attacks, I found myself like everyone else, glued to the news around the clock, watching non-stop the horror coming out of Gaza. One night, as the Israeli forces started to bomb Al-Shefa Hospital – a spot I was familiar with, having developed a bond with the reporter who broadcast from there – I realised that reporter was no longer there. He was not even mentioned. That night was particularly heartbreaking for me. I felt pressure in my head, as if it might literally explode. Waves of anxiety surged through me, along with terrible thoughts, and I had to turn off the television and wander around my house at 2:00am, desperately trying to shift my focus. I remembered that night as I watched the Palestinian documentary A State of Passion – directed by Carol Mansour, a Lebanese-Canadian filmmaker with Palestinian ancestry, and Muna Khalidi, who has a very close friendship with Abu-Sittah – which follows the renowned Palestinian-British plastic and reconstructive surgeon Ghassan Abu-Sittah when he volunteered to enter Gaza for the sixth time at a time of conflict only to realise that this time it was full-scale genocide. He had never performed this number of amputations on children ever in his life, as he said at one of the most moving moments. At this point, when the film was recently screened at Zawya in the lineup of the Between Women Filmmakers Caravan – an independent initiative organised by a group of female filmmakers and film curators – the Gaza war was already one year and eight months old. Still, I'd missed the first screening of the film, which made its world premiere at the Cairo International Film Festival, receiving three awards: the top award of the Horizons of Arab Cinema section, the Saadeddin Wahba Award for Best Arabic Film, and the second prize for Best Palestinian Film as well as a Special Mention for Abu-Sittah. After 43 days in Gaza, Abu-Sittah jumped on a plane to Amman to spend 24 hours with Mansour and Khalidi, who had called to request the meeting. As they stated in an online interview with the audience after the screening, the phone call that appears in the film is the real phone call. In Amman, the camera captures the emotions involved in the meeting, which also involves an old friend of Abu-Sittah's and his proud mother, whose favourite son he was, according to the two filmmakers. Mansour and Khalidi accompany Abu-Sittah on a quick visit to Kuwait, where he was raised and where he reminisces about his father, also a doctor, in front of said father's former clinic. Abu-Sittah was born in Kuwait to a Palestinian father and a Lebanese mother. His father's family originated in Maain Abu-Sittah in the southeast of Gaza, which they were forced to flee when the Zionists attacked during the Nakba. They moved to Kuwait and later to the United Kingdom in the 1980s and Abu-Sittah eventually realised his father's dream by studying medicine at Glasgow University. The documentary includes some harsh photos of children undergoing surgical procedures, especially when Abu-Sittah is trying to prove that Israel used white phosphorus in their military operations, but such graphic imagery was limited, reflecting the filmmakers' decision to give only a small taste of the horror after they were faced with the predicament of whether and how much to show. Abu-Sittah recalls performing amputations on six children in a single day, and when he elaborates on how complicated the situation is there, he explains that health procedures are based on people directing you to save the life of the only living member of the family or whether a doctor can just clean up a wound that will keep someone alive for a day so as to save a few other lives that require urgent attention. Abu-Sittah made his way to Gaza to treat patients all the way through Rafah many times; his first medical visit to Gaza was during the first Intifada in 1987. He was back during the second Intifada in 2000 and then in the wars of 2009, 2012, 2014, 2021 and finally 2023. Mansour alone accompanies Abu-Sittah to London where he lives with his family: his wife Dima and three sons. Khalidi couldn't go due to complications with her visa. And this is where the documentary becomes a more personal exploration of Abu-Sittah's extraordinary character. When he's not working, he is with his family, a dedicated husband and father whose presence is a delight to them. He is seen ironing his sons' school uniforms and putting together their lunch boxes in the morning. There is a sequence in the 90-minute documentary when we hear the exchange of voice messages between him and his three sons. It is touching how he says good morning to each of them in spite of the horrors he is enduring so many miles away. Dima and Abu-Sittah have a sweet relationship with the Palestinian cause at its core. Dima explains how she took the children to Gaza, showing them every corner of it with a strange presentiment that it might not survive. They went to the beach and visited all the landmarks. Her presentiment was right: they returned on 7 September, exactly a month before the horrific incidents began. When Dima and Abu Sittah were in Gaza, they took along Dima's mother, who needed medical attention in London while her father remained alone, an old man tired of being repeatedly displaced, refusing to leave his house. The mother could not return to Gaza but she has been living in Egypt: she was even present at the screening of the film. When Dima spoke of Palestinian resilience, it rang true in a way it usually doesn't. 'If he hadn't gone to Gaza, I wouldn't have known how to maintain my respect for him,' she also said of Abu-Sittah, who, for his part, said they were both so clear about his need to be there, the decision didn't even have to be discussed. * A version of this article appears in print in the 5 June, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
CairoScene
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Gaza Documentary ‘A State of Passion' to Screen at Zawya Cinema
The documentary follows British-Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah and his experiences working in Gaza's hospitals. May 16, 2025 Zawya Cinema is hosting a special screening of the documentary 'A State of Passion' on May 17th as part of The Between Women Filmmakers Caravan. Co-directed by Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi, the film traces the journey of British-Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah during 43 days inside Gaza's Al Shifa and Al Ahli hospitals—two of the most overwhelmed facilities amidst Israel's genocidal assault on Gaza. The screening starts at 7 PM sharp, with tickets available at a discounted price of EGP 600 through ElCinema's official website.
The National
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
A State of Passion review: The story of Gaza doctor Ghassan Abu-Sittah is harrowing, uplifting and a must-see
For many of us around the world, when the Israel-Gaza war began, we asked ourselves and our loved ones one question: What can we do to ease the suffering? Overcome with compassion, we did what we could – though it never felt like enough. We donated clothes, food and money. We raised our voices. We took to the streets. We grew more discerning about which brands we supported. And we found new heroes to admire – those in Gaza who, in the face of unfathomable conditions, continued to risk their lives to save the men, women and children caught up in a siege of grotesque brutality. Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah was one of those heroes. Many of us first saw him on our screens during a press conference outside Al Ahli Hospital on October 17, 2023, as he defiantly told the world about the explosion that had killed hundreds at the institution just two hours earlier. Flanked by his colleagues, Abu-Sittah spoke unwaveringly amid the wreckage: 'This is a massacre. And more hospitals will be targeted.' A State of Passion, directed by Carol Mansour (Aida Returns) and Muna Khalidi, tells his story. But more than just reportage of the 43 days Abu-Sittah spent struggling to save lives in Gaza during the early days of the war, it's an exploration of character. Through interviews with the doctor himself and his loved ones, Mansour and Khalidi explore the mystery behind his actions. After all, what kind of a man leaves behind his comfortable life in the United Kingdom to travel 3,500km into a war zone, doing everything in his power to save the lives of as many men, women and children as possible – and turning himself into a target in the process? As it turns out, he's a more complicated man than you may imagine. For one, he does not solely live his life for humanitarian causes. The British-Palestinian doctor has been an activist on behalf of the cause for nearly his entire life, travelling to Gaza nearly every time lives were at great risk. But he's also a plastic surgeon, whose most marketable skill is his ability to lift upper lips without a noticeable scar. He's as conflicted about it as you can imagine. But unlike his past emergency trips to Palestine, Abu-Sittah's life was never the same after he returned from Gaza in 2023. Because he spoke out so publicly, he was now one of the most recognisable figures of the war, which won him new enemies – people who tried to discredit him and ruin his career. Watching Mansour and Khalidi's film is as painful as you can imagine – particularly as the traumas of the war have not yet begun to heal. Footage of dead children being moved around in blue plastic bags, of open wounds and the emotional agony of those processing the loss of their family members is no less painful to watch now than it has been every day on social media. For that reason, I can understand those, particularly Palestinian friends of mine, who are not ready to watch such a film as this. But rest assured, this is not just a story of suffering – it's also a story of hope. It's a testament to the resilience of the Palestinian people. It's not just about one great man. It's about the people around him that give him the strength to be great – strength the film also gives to its audience. And it's also laugh-out-loud funny at times. Abu-Sittah and his wife are charming, eccentric and have a disarming, unmistakably Palestinian sense of humour. These are people you'll enjoy spending time with, who will remind you of the good in the world and motivate you to keep fighting for what's right. You may walk out from the theatre feeling heavier on your feet, but the film reminds you that this is a weight that we share together, and thus a weight that's easier to carry.
What's On
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
Discover the wonder of women at Cinema Akil this March
Your March in alternative cinema at Cinema Akil… The month of March marks International Women's Day on March 8, and Women's History Month throughout this month, and championing women in their respective fields is how we can celebrate these occasions. Cinema Akil everyone's favourite independent arthouse cinema and the go-to spot for alternative watching, is shining the spotlight on the women in cinema, both on and behind the screen. This line-up features five outstanding female directors, and aims to inspire people to celebrate the stories, voices and perspectives of the women in their lives. The selection of movies features some new releases and returning classic favourites, all creating space for dialogue and ideals you'll take home with you. Cinema Akil All We Imagine As Ligh t (until March 6) , is an Indian film that follows Nurse Prabha in Mumbai, whose life is disrupted by an unexpected gift from her estranged husband, while her younger roommate, Anu, struggles to find privacy in the bustling city. A State of Passion (until March 21) , follows British Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah through 43 days of relentless bombardment in Gaza's hospitals, where he becomes a symbol of resistance and resilience. Passing Dreams (March 7 to 21) , tells the story of 12-year-old Samy's journey to find his missing bird, believed to have returned home. Through his search, the film explores the complexities of daily life in Palestine and its impact on identity and relationships. The Yard This month, Cinema Akil is also hosting screenings under the stars at The Yard in Alserkal Avenue. These are free to the public, and a great way to enjoy this interesting, chilly turn of weather we have in Dubai right now while it lasts. Divine Intervention (March 9) , depicts the secret meetings of Palestinian lovers from Jerusalem and Ramallah, whose relationship is challenged by the separation of a checkpoint. The Tedious Tour of M (March 15) , is a documentary by director Hend Bakr exploring why renowned Egyptian writer Hafez Ragab returned to his hometown after 30 years and abandoned writing at the peak of his career. Cinema Akil in 25Hours As always, all screenings at Cinema Akil at 25Hours are free of cost, but a reservation is required. The Things of Life (March 4 to 25), directed by Claude Sautet, follows architect Pierre, who, after a car accident, relives moments from his life as he rediscovers the sweetness of the 'things of life.' Little Women (March 6 to 23), directed by Greta Gerwig, follows the March sisters—Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth—navigating the challenges of womanhood in 19th-century Massachusetts as they face life's ups and downs and make pivotal decisions for their futures. Ama Gloria ( March 8 to 27), directed by Marie Amachoukeli, tells the story of six-year-old Cléo, who deeply loves her nanny Gloria. As Gloria must return to Cape Verde to care for her own children, the two make the most of their final summer together. Seven Winters in Tehran (March 9 to 29), directed by Steffi Niederzoll, tells the story of Reyhaneh Jabarri, sentenced to death for killing a man in self-defense, highlighting the oppression of women in Iran and Reyhaneh's legacy as a symbol of resistance. For the full schedule, visit @cinemaakil Images: Supplied > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
