• Refugee Status: Privileged

    Author(s):
    Rana Kazkaz (see profile)
    Date:
    2019
    Subject(s):
    Motion pictures, Middle East, Syria, War
    Item Type:
    Article
    Tag(s):
    refugee, War, Film, War and conflict
    Permanent URL:
    https://doi.org/10.17613/6n1j-8006
    Abstract:
    Abstract: The idea for the short film Mare Nostrum (Rana Kazkaz and Anas Khalaf, 2016) came to me as a result of several experiences I had in April 2015. At that time, I was making a documentary with Syrian refugees living in Jordan and three of them were contemplating taking the illegal boat ride across the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe. None of them knew how to swim. Next, while at a dinner party in Amman, I was shocked to hear judgmental words aimed at those who dared risk their lives to cross the sea in the name of hope: “selfish”; “such greed”; “they should stay where they are”. Then, I saw a news reporter state that nearly 800 people had drowned that day trying to cross the Mediterranean. Finally, while researching information about Syrian refugees, I learned that an Italian initiative that had been rescuing people from the sea had been terminated. It was called Operation Mare Nostrum. With all this information, the cinematic images formed in my mind: a father throws his daughter in the sea, no dialogue. Only at the end do we understand he was teaching her to survive. This is an account of the making of Mare Nostrum.
    Notes:
    Link to film MARE NOSTRUM: https://vimeo.com/430995478 Password: Razan
    Metadata:
    xml
    Published as:
    Journal article     Show details
    Pub. DOI:
    https://doaj.org/toc/2009-4078
    Publisher:
    University College Cork [University Publisher]
    Pub. Date:
    2019
    Journal:
    Alphaville: Journal of Film and Screen Media
    Volume:
    no. 18
    Page Range:
    145 - 159
    ISSN:
    2009-4078
    Status:
    Published
    Last Updated:
    1 year ago
    License:
    All Rights Reserved

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