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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
Kuwait Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
Gazan twins in Cannes warn ‘nothing left' of homeland
Twin Gazan filmmakers Arab and Tarzan Nasser said they never thought the title of their new film 'Once Upon A Time In Gaza' would have such heartbreaking resonance. 'Right now there is nothing left of Gaza,' Tarzan said when it premiered Monday at the Cannes film festival. Zionist entity has vowed to 'take control of all' the besieged territory of more than two million inhabitants, where United Nations agencies have warned of famine following Zionist's implementation of a two-month total blockade. Aid started to trickle into the Gaza Strip on Monday, following widespread condemnation of the siege. The Nasser brothers, who left Gaza in 2012, said their new film set in 2007, when Hamas Islamists seized control of the strip, explains the lead-up to today's catastrophic war. 'Once Upon A Time In Gaza', which screened in the festival's Un Certain Regard section, follows friends Yahia and Osama as they try to make a little extra cash by selling drugs stuffed into falafel sandwiches. Using a manual meat grinder that does not rely on rare electricity, student Yahia blends up fava beans and fresh herbs to make the patty-shaped fritters in the back of Osama's small run-down eatery, while dreaming of being able to leave the Israeli-blockaded coastal strip. Charismatic hustler Osama meanwhile visits pharmacy after pharmacy to amass as many pills as he can with stolen prescriptions, pursued by a corrupt cop. Palestinian director and screenwriter Tarzan Nasser and Palestinian director and screenwriter Arab Nasser pose during a photocall for the film "Once Upon a Time in Gaza". 'Human beings' The Zionist entity first imposed a blockade on Gaza in June 2006 after militants there took one of its soldiers, and reinforced it in September 2007 several months after Hamas took power. 'The blockade was gradually tightened, tightened until reaching the genocide we see today,' Tarzan said. 'Until today they are counting the calories that enter,' he added. A Zionist NGO said in 2012 that documents showed the Zionist authorities had calculated that 2,279 calories per person per day was deemed sufficient to prevent malnutrition in Gaza. The defence ministry however claimed it had 'never counted calories' when allowing aid in. Despite all this, Gazans have always shown a love of life and been incredibly resilient, the directors said. 'My father is until now in northern Gaza,' Tarzan said, adding that the family's two homes had been destroyed. But before then, 'every time a missile hit, damaging a wall or window, he'd fix it up the next day', he said. In films, 'the last thing I want to do is talk about the Zionist entity and what it's doing', he added. 'Human beings are more important—who they are, how they're living and adapting to this really tough reality.' In their previous films, the Nasser twins followed an elderly fisherman enamored with his neighbor in the market in 'Gaza Mon Amour' and filmed women trapped at a hairdresser's in 'Degrade' from 2015. Like 'Once Upon A Time in Gaza', they were all shot in Jordan. 'Gaza was a riviera' As the siege takes its toll in 'Once Upon A Time In Gaza', a desolate Yahia is recruited to star in a Hamas propaganda film. In Gaza, 'we don't have special effects but we do have live bullets', the producer says in one scene. 'Once Upon A Time In Gaza' has received good reviews, with Screen Daily saying the 'taut, succinct film should win widespread attention'. Arab said that long before Gazan tap water became salty and US President Donald Trump sparked controversy by saying he wanted to turn their land into the 'Riviera of the Middle East', the coastal strip was a happy place. 'I remember when I was little, Gaza actually was a riviera. It was the most beautiful place. I can still taste the fresh water on my tongue,' he said. 'Now Trump comes up with this great invention that he wants to turn it into a riviera, after the Zionist entity completely destroyed it?' — AFP
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Gazan twin brothers' Cannes film mourns a Gaza lost to war
Arab and Tarzan Nasser's latest film, set in 2007 Gaza, serves as both social satire and elegy, premiering just as the real-life strip faces devastation. Twin Gazan filmmakers Arab and Tarzan Nasser said they never thought the title of their new film 'Once Upon A Time In Gaza' would have such heartbreaking resonance. 'Right now there is nothing left of Gaza,' Tarzan said when it premiered Monday at the Cannes film festival. Since militants from the Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza has ravaged large swathes of the Palestinian territory and killed tens of thousands of people. Israel has vowed to 'take control of all' the besieged territory of more than two million inhabitants, where United Nations agencies have warned of famine following Israel's implementation of a two-month total blockade. Aid started to trickle into the Gaza Strip on Monday, following widespread condemnation of the siege. The Nasser brothers, who left Gaza in 2012, said their new film set in 2007, when Hamas Islamists seized control of the strip, explains the lead-up to today's catastrophic war. Once Upon A Time In Gaza 'Once Upon A Time In Gaza', which screened in the festival's Un Certain Regard section, follows friends Yahia and Osama as they try to make a little extra cash by selling drugs stuffed into falafel sandwiches. Using a manual meat grinder that does not rely on rare electricity, student Yahia blends up fava beans and fresh herbs to make the patty-shaped fritters in the back of Osama's small run-down eatery, while dreaming of being able to leave the Israeli-blockaded coastal strip. Charismatic hustler Osama meanwhile visits pharmacy after pharmacy to amass as many pills as he can with stolen prescriptions, pursued by a corrupt cop. Israel's blockade on Gaza Israel first imposed a blockade on Gaza in June 2006 after militants there took one of its soldiers, and reinforced it in September 2007 several months after Hamas took power. ALSO READ: Oscar-winning documentary on West Bank settlements sparks Israeli backlash 'The blockade was gradually tightened, tightened until reaching the genocide we see today,' Tarzan said. 'Until today they are counting the calories that enter,' he added. An Israeli NGO said in 2012 that documents showed Israeli authorities had calculated that 2 279 calories per person per day was deemed sufficient to prevent malnutrition in Gaza. The defence ministry however claimed it had 'never counted calories' when allowing aid in. Despite all this, Gazans have always shown a love of life and been incredibly resilient, the directors said. 'Human beings' 'My father is until now in northern Gaza,' Tarzan said, adding that the family's two homes had been destroyed. But before then, 'every time a missile hit, damaging a wall or window, he'd fix it up the next day', he said. In films, 'the last thing I want to do is talk about Israel and what it's doing', he added. 'Human beings are more important –- who they are, how they're living and adapting to this really tough reality.' In their previous films, the Nasser twins followed an elderly fisherman enamoured with his neighbour in the market in 'Gaza Mon Amour' and filmed women trapped at a hairdresser's in 'Degrade' from 2015. Like 'Once Upon A Time in Gaza', they were all shot in Jordan. ALSO READ: Israel launches expanded Gaza offensive aimed at defeating Hamas 'Gaza was a riviera' As the siege takes its toll in 'Once Upon A Time In Gaza', a desolate Yahia is recruited to star in a Hamas propaganda film. In Gaza, 'we don't have special effects but we do have live bullets', the producer says in one scene. 'Once Upon A Time In Gaza' has received good reviews, with Screen Daily saying the 'taut, succinct film should win widespread attention'. Arab said that long before Gazan tap water became salty and US President Donald Trump sparked controversy by saying he wanted to turn their land into the 'Riviera of the Middle East', the coastal strip was a happy place. 'I remember when I was little, Gaza actually was a riviera. It was the most beautiful place. I can still taste the fresh water on my tongue,' he said. 'Now Trump comes up with this great invention that he wants to turn it into a riviera, after Israel completely destroyed it?' More than 1 200 deaths Hamas's October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1 218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Militants also took 251 hostages, 57 of whom remain in Gaza including 34 the military says are dead. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed 53 486 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health authorities, whose figures the United Nations deems reliable. Gaza health authorities said at least 44 people were killed there in the early hours of Tuesday. NOW READ: WHO chief says 2 million 'starving' in Gaza
New Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Gazan twins in Cannes warn 'nothing left' of homeland
FRANCE: Twin Gazan filmmakers Arab and Tarzan Nasser said they never thought the title of their new film "Once Upon A Time in Gaza" would have such heartbreaking resonance. "Right now, there is nothing left of Gaza," Tarzan said when it premiered on Monday at the Cannes Film Festival. Since militants from the Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza has devastated large swathes of Palestinian territory, killing tens of thousands of people. Israel has vowed to "take control of all" the besieged territory of more than two million inhabitants, where United Nations agencies have warned of famine following Israel's implementation of a two-month total blockade. Aid began to trickle into the Gaza Strip on Monday, following widespread condemnation of the siege. The Nasser brothers, who left Gaza in 2012, said their new film, set in 2007 when Hamas Islamists seized control of the strip, explains the lead-up to the current catastrophic war. Once Upon A Time in Gaza, which screened in the festival's Un Certain Regard section, follows friends Yahia and Osama as they try to make a little extra cash by selling drugs hidden in falafel sandwiches. Using a manual meat grinder that does not rely on rare electricity, student Yahia blends fava beans and fresh herbs to make the patty-shaped fritters in the back of Osama's small, run-down eatery, while dreaming of being able to leave the Israeli-blockaded coastal strip. Meanwhile, charismatic hustler Osama visits pharmacy after pharmacy to amass as many pills as he can with stolen prescriptions, pursued by a corrupt cop.
New Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
Gazan twins in Cannes warn 'nothing left' of homeland
CANNES: Twin Gazan filmmakers Arab and Tarzan Nasser said they never thought the title of their new film "Once Upon A Time In Gaza" would have such heartbreaking resonance. "Right now there is nothing left of Gaza," said Tarzan when it premiered on Monday at the Cannes film festival. Since resistance fighters from Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, more than 18 months of Israeli bombardment has ravaged large swathes of the Palestinian territory and killed tens of thousands of people. Israel has vowed to "take control of all" the besieged territory of more than two million inhabitants, where United Nations agencies have warned of famine following Israel's two-month total blockade. Israel allowed in several aid trucks on Monday but the UN said it was only "a drop in the ocean" of needs. The Nasser brothers, who left Gaza in 2012, said their new film set in 2007, when Hamas seized control of the strip, explains the lead-up to today's catastrophic war. "Once Upon A Time In Gaza", which screened in the festival's Un Certain Regard section, follows friends Yahia and Osama as they try to make a little extra cash by selling drugs stuffed into falafel sandwiches. Using a manual meat grinder that does not rely on rare electricity, student Yahia blends up fava beans and fresh herbs to make the patty-shaped fritters in the back of Osama's small run-down eatery, while dreaming of being able to leave the Israeli-blockaded coastal strip. Charismatic hustler Osama meanwhile visits pharmacy after pharmacy to amass as many pills as he can with stolen prescriptions, pursued by a corrupt cop. Israel first imposed a blockade on Gaza in June 2006 after fighters there took one of its soldiers, and reinforced it in September 2007 several months after Hamas took power. "The blockade was gradually tightened, tightened until reaching the genocide we see today," said Tarzan. "Until today they are counting the calories that enter," he added. An Israeli NGO said in 2012 that documents showed Israeli authorities had calculated that 2,279 calories per person per day was deemed sufficient to prevent malnutrition in Gaza. Despite all this, Gazans have always shown a love of life and been incredibly resilient, the directors said. "My father is until now in northern Gaza," Tarzan said, explaining the family's two homes had been destroyed. But before then, "every time a missile hit, damaging a wall or window, he'd fix it up the next day", he said. In films, "the last thing I want to do is talk about Israel and what it's doing", he added. "Human beings are more important – who they are, how they're living and adapting to this really tough reality." In their previous films, the Nasser twins followed an elderly fisherman enamoured with his neighbour in the market in "Gaza Mon Amour" and filmed women trapped at the hairdresser's in their 2015's "Degrade." Like "Once Upon A Time in Gaza", they were all shot in Jordan. As the siege takes its toll in "Once Upon A Time In Gaza", a desolate Yahia is recruited to star in a Hamas film. In Gaza, "we don't have special effects but we do have live bullets", the producer says in one scene. Arab said, long before Gazan tap water became salty and US President Donald Trump sparked controversy by saying he wanted to turn their land into the "Riviera of the Middle East", the coastal strip was a happy place. "I remember when I was little, Gaza actually was a riviera. It was the most beautiful place. I can still taste the fresh water on my tongue," he said. "Now Trump comes up with this great invention that he wants to turn it into a riviera after Israel completely destroyed it?" Hamas's October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Fighters also took 251 hostages, 57 of whom remain in Gaza including 34 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed 53,486 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health authorities, whose figures the United Nations deems reliable. Gaza health authorities said at least 44 people were killed there in the early hours of Tuesday.
