Latest news with #OnceUponaTimeinGaza
Broadcast Pro
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Palestinian filmmakers Nasser brothers win Cannes ‘Best Director' award
The film is an international co-production between France, Palestine, Germany, Portugal, Qatar and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Palestinian filmmakers Tarzan and Arab Nasser have clinched the Best Director award in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival for their latest work, Once Upon a Time in Gaza. The film had its world premiere at the festival to thunderous applause, captivating both audiences and critics with its blend of comedy and drama. The Nasser brothers, who have long been prominent voices in Palestinian cinema, expressed deep gratitude for the recognition and the international support they received throughout the film's journey. This latest win adds to their growing legacy at Cannes, where their short Condom Lead competed in the Main Competition and their debut feature Dégradé premiered in Critics' Week. Their second feature, Gaza Mon Amour, previously premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and was Palestine's official submission to the 2021 Academy Awards. Critics have responded enthusiastically to Once Upon a Time in Gaza, praising its artistry and relevance. Clotilde Chinnici of Loud and Clear Reviews called it 'necessary and remarkable,' highlighting its powerful political undertones and stunning visuals. Jonathan Romney of Screen Daily described it as 'taut' and 'succinct,' predicting the film would garner significant attention after its Cannes debut. Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter noted its emotional depth, calling it 'small-scale yet broad in its implications,' particularly in the context of ongoing events in Gaza. Set against the backdrop of the besieged enclave, the film follows Yahya, a young student who befriends Osama, a kind-hearted restaurant owner. Together, they begin selling drugs while delivering falafel, only to encounter a corrupt and egotistical police officer. The story provides a deeply human portrait of life in Gaza, blending humor and harsh reality in a way that resonates far beyond its setting. Once Upon a Time in Gaza is an international co-production between France, Palestine, Germany and Portugal, with additional support from Qatar and Jordan. The cast includes Nader Abd Alhay—known for Farah on Netflix—Ramzi Maqdisi (Ghost Hunting) and Majd Eid (Holy Spider), with cinematography by Christophe Graillot and editing by Sophie Reine. The screenplay was co-written by the Nasser brothers alongside Amer Nasser and Marie Legrand. It was produced by Rani Massalha and Marie Legrand of Les Films du Tambour and Muriel Merlin of Lyly Productions, with a broad base of co-producers from around the globe including Rise Studios, Made in Palestine Project, Red Balloon Film, Riva Filmproduktion, and Ukbar Filmes, among others. Distribution is handled by MAD Distribution for the Arab world, The Party Film Sales for international markets, and Dulac Distribution for France. The project also benefited from the backing of major cultural institutions, including Aide aux Cinémas du Monde – CNC, Eurimages, the Doha Film Institute, and the Royal Film Commission's Jordan Film Fund.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Once Upon a Time in Gaza' Review: An Altruistic but Scattered Palestinian Crime Farce
Directed by the twin duo of Tarzan and Arab Nasser, 'Once Upon a Time in Gaza' is about a collaboration of a different sort: a small-time drug scheme concocted by timid university student Yahya (Nader Abd Alhay) and burly restaurant owner Osama (Majd Eid). Although set in 2007, the well-meaning, tongue-in-cheek drama has a penchant for connecting its setting to the contemporary political zeitgeist, which it vocalizes loudly and overtly. However, its self-reflexive, bifurcated story — about using cinematic images to create a revolution — ends up ironically flaccid. Captured with careful compositional intent, the movie's first half sees Osama, the brains of the operation, sending Yahya to acquire pain meds using forged prescriptions, which they plan to sell by hiding them in pita sandwiches from Osama's hole-in-the-wall falafel joint. As this plot unfolds, it's buoyed by the light and humorous tension of the duo's disagreements — which the Nassers allow to play out to the point of absurdity — and by the corrupt police officer on their tails, Abou Sami (Ramzi Maqdisi). All the while, newspaper headlines and stories on TV tell of growing tensions, as Israel has recently declared Gaza 'hostile territory' and plans to literally wall them off. More from Variety 'Honey Don't!' Review: Margaret Qualley Is Back, with Even More Panache, in the 'Drive-Away Dolls' Companion Piece No One Asked For. But It's Throwaway Fun 'Yes' Review: Nadav Lapid's Blistering Attack on Israeli Nationalism is an Effectively Blunt Instrument Chilean AIDS Drama 'The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo' Wins Un Certain Regard Award at Cannes The looming presence of this political specter is seldom tethered to the ongoing rigamarole, except in the minor instance of Yahya being prevented, by the Israeli authority, from traveling to the West Bank to see his mother. On one hand, it's impossible to tell a story about modern Gaza without the shifting parameters of its existence coming up in some way. On the other, this seldom has an impact on the movie's larger goings-on. The moral dilemma faced by Osama, as Abou Sami offers him freedom in exchange for a cut, feels suddenly interrupted by each injection of the wider world, instead of the two being interwoven. Granted, there's a minor farcical streak that offers the film a bit of an escape hatch. It begins with recent audio clips from U.S. President Donald Trump claiming to want to turn Gaza into a private riviera, alongside recent clips of Gaza's buildings being razed to the ground. This, in effect, frames even the movie's unrelated, apolitical happenings as being at the mercy of this dangerous future, backed by Western powers. However, none of the news items ever truly feels like a premonition, given their swift and uninvolving appearance, verging on ironic in intent. There's also a greater farce at play, though it takes a while to arrive. The movie's opening images are of a low-budget production filmed in-world, called 'The Rebel,' billed as the first action movie shot in Gaza. It plays like a joke at first, but comes back around in the movie's second half, which pivots almost entirely to the actual making of this movie — about a heroic armed resistance — in which Yahya finds himself involved through sheer coincidence. This seeming act of fate recenters the movie's Hollywood-inspired title and images. Up to this point, a number of scenes feel inspired by major Hollywood influences, from 'Pulp Fiction'-esque banter to music that echoes Nino Rota's score for 'The Godfather' to a surreal close-up that mirrors the opening of 'Apocalypse Now.' These aren't references for the sake of reference, but rather, a seeming attempt to reckon with the dueling influence of American culture and American politics, with the former helping Gaza's filmmakers to build their images and identities, and the latter funding weaponry used to destroy them. The movie seems to shift in focus, toward the creation of revolutionaries as a cinematic idea, but it soon discards all these meta-textual flourishes in favor of a final act built around even more acts of destiny, which ends up going awry. Using coincidence to get a story going is one thing, but unless nihilism is the point and purpose — à la Coen brothers' 'A Serious Man' — using coincidence to end a story as well can be incredibly unsatisfying. This, coupled with the movie's refusal to fully dive into its characters' desires for vengeance (when things become especially violent), renders 'Once Upon a Time in Gaza' more facsimile than homage or self-reflection, and more distant observation than rigorous, tongue-in-cheek inquiry into life under occupation. Best of Variety The Best Albums of the Decade
Al-Ahram Weekly
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Once Upon a Time in Gaza wins Best Director at Cannes' Un Certain Regard - Screens - Arts & Culture
Once Upon a Time in Gaza claimed the prestigious Best Director award in Cannes' "Un Certain Regard" section. Commenting on their triumph, Palestinian twin directors Tarzan and Arab Nasser expressed their gratitude for the recognition and the support they received throughout the journey. Following its world premiere, the film garnered widespread acclaim from critics around the globe. Clotilde Chinnici (Loud and Clear Reviews) described it as 'necessary and remarkable. Once Upon a Time in Gaza is a beautifully shot and politically significant film, especially relevant today.' Meanwhile, Jonathan Romney (Screen Daily) praised its impact, stating, 'This taut, succinct film should win widespread attention following its bow in Un Certain Regard.' Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter also lauded the film, describing Once Upon a Time in Gaza as 'small-scale yet broad in its implications, especially considering what's happened since October 7,' and highlighting how the film 'touchingly portrays characters doing their best in a place that grants them few options and even fewer opportunities.' This victory marks yet another milestone for the Nasser brothers at Cannes. Their short film Condom Lead was selected for the Main Competition, while their debut feature Dégradé premiered in Cannes' Critics' Week. Once Upon a Time in Gaza is their second feature, following Gaza Mon Amour, which had its world premiere in the Venice International Film Festival's Horizons program and was Palestine's submission to the 2021 Academy Awards. The film explores the gripping story of Yahya, a young student who forges a friendship with Osama, a charismatic restaurant owner with a big heart. Together, they begin peddling drugs while delivering falafel sandwiches, but they are soon forced to grapple with a corrupt cop and his oversized ego. An international co-production between France, Palestine, Germany, and Portugal, with additional support from Qatar and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the film boasts a stellar cast that includes Nader Abd Alhay—known for his role as Sami in Farah, currently streaming on Netflix—Ramzi Maqdisi (Ghost Hunting, awarded Best Documentary at the Berlinale), and Majd Eid (Holy Spider, Cannes winner). The film also features DOP Christophe Graillot (Ride Above) and editor Sophie Reine, who won the César Award for Best Editing for The First Day of the Rest of Your Life. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cannes 2025: Gaza casts shadow over festival, but films celebrate Palestinian resilience
With war still raging in Gaza, Palestinian filmmakers are in no mood to celebrate their strongest Cannes showing in years. But the movies screened at the world's leading film festival, including brothers Tarzan and Arab Nasser's "Once Upon a Time in Gaza", are powerful odes to resilience. A first national pavilion in years and a pair of films with glowing reviews would normally be cause for celebration in Cannes. But at the tent housing the Palestine pavilion, a short walk from Cannes' Palais des Festivals, no one has come to the glitzy French Riviera gathering for the revelry. "We're clearly not here for the Cannes party," says film producer Rashid Abdelhamid, his voice drowned out by the ruckus of a cocktail event at the adjacent American Pavilion. "But we're doing our own celebrations – of life and resilience," adds the producer of festival hit "One Upon a Time in Gaza", which premiered to rapturous applause earlier this week. "We want to show that we're here, that we're alive, that we want to live and dance like everyone else," he adds. "And that we're staying where we are." Gaza-born twin brothers Arab and Tarzan Nasser came up with the idea for "Once Upon a Time in Gaza" well before the start of the ongoing war that has wiped out most of their homeland – and made the title to their film eerily timely. The Nasser brothers, who left Gaza in 2011 and shoot their movies in Jordan, describe their latest feature as "archival material" documenting a place that no longer exists. Read more on FRANCE 24 EnglishRead also:Louder than bombs: Cannes screens tribute to Gaza photojournalist who refused a quiet deathCannes 2025: Nollywood basks in spotlight as Nigerian film finally makes the cut
CairoScene
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Cannes in Review: ‘Once Upon a Time in Gaza'
Cannes in Review: 'Once Upon a Time in Gaza' Arab and Tarzan Nasser first drew international acclaim at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival with 'Gaza Mon Amour'. Twelve years later, the visionary Palestinian brothers return with 'Once Upon a Time in Gaza'. Set in 2007, against the backdrop of a blockaded city, the dramedy tells the story of a student who strikes up an unlikely alliance with a small-time Lyrica dealer. Before they know it, they both get caught in the crosshairs of a corrupt police officer. Selected for the Un Certain Regard section, the film is a low-key crime caper that doesn't take itself too seriously. It's laced with humor and grounded in the everyday hustle of survival. Unlike many depictions of Gaza, the Israeli occupation here simmers in the background rather than taking center stage. Instead, the focus is on the resourcefulness, wit, and resilience of those making the most of life within a place that offers them so little. It shows that even under siege, people find ways to outsmart the systems that try to contain them. The story begins with Ossama faking an illness to obtain a prescription for Lyrica. While the doctor briefly steps out, Ossama seizes the moment. He steals the prescription pad and stamps it with the clinic's official seal. He then teams up with Yahya, a former student, and together they drive around the city, hitting pharmacy after pharmacy to stock up on Lyrica sheets. When Ossama attempts to sell the pills, he crosses paths with Abou Sami, a corrupt police officer. Sami pressures Ossama to turn informant and name his associates involved in the drug scheme. Ossama refuses. This sets off a violent confrontation. To reveal anything more would spoil the experience. The film thrives on its unpredictable energy, constantly wrong-footing the audience just when they think they've figured it out. What starts as a low-stakes hustle quickly spirals into something far more chaotic. I was all in for the ride. It's that element of surprise, those sharp tonal shifts, that give the film its charm. Part of the thrill is never quite knowing what it might throw at you next. There's a film-within-a-film element that I found absolutely hilarious. It involves the making of The Rebel, which is meant to be Gaza's first-ever action movie. It's based on the life of a martyred resistance fighter. But the budget is so low, the characters end up using real bullets on set. As they shoot, both literally and figuratively, the looming threat of an Israeli drone mistaking the production for militant activity hangs over them like a dark cloud. It's brilliantly absurd. In one scene, a character mentions the idea of resistance through images. That line reverberates beyond the screen. It speaks directly to the film's deeper purpose. On a meta level, that's exactly what the Nassers are doing. They are using cinema itself as a creative act of defiance. Their characters are hustlers, dreamers, schemers, and storytellers navigating the tightrope of everyday life in an occupied land. The end result is a wildly entertaining, politically charged, and darkly comic gem. With Once Upon a Time in Gaza, the Nasser brothers pull off something so rare. They created a film that is both unflinching and unexpectedly uplifting. It demands to be seen.
