Documentary Screening - Occupied

INTRODUCTION

The story of Palestine and its people is wrought in complexities. Much has been written and spoken about it over the decades and the ground swell of activism, conflict and peace resolutions that have come to pass, bear testimony to its tumultuous history. Invariably, the body of work in the public domain today is largely geared towards stories that speak to the atrocities and injustices visited upon the people of Palestine – stories that are important and integral to the larger discussion on human rights, statehood and the politics governing the Arab world.

MUSIC FOR HAPPINESS, ART FOR LOVE AND POETRY FOR STRENGTH

Our story chooses to focus on the young, disenfranchised, Palestinians who have chosen the path of creativity over conflict as a response to the world around them. The individuals featured and the experiences shared by them, speak to a collective reimagining of what resistance in the face of aggression can look like.

Resistance that has taken the shape of music serenading patrons at the local watering hole, art that adorns the walls lining pavements and poetry gushing forth from the lips of brave women and men who know no other language.

OCCUPIED

Occupied is the story of young Palestinians debating the choices made and the path walked – while decoding a future that is equal parts promising and uncertain. It is their celebration of life, love and hope, set against the backdrop of persecution and marginalization, with a singular belief at its core – in the end, love always wins.

Trailer

Directed by Pranav Pingle