As a seasoned movie reviewer who has traversed the globe to uncover hidden gems and blockbuster sensations alike, I must say that “The Jacket” by Mathijs Poppe is a breath of fresh air. This film, born from a heartfelt connection between two men separated by continents but united by a shared passion for storytelling, is a testament to the power of empathy and collaboration.
In the city of Berlin, film sales agency Pluto Film has taken on the first full-length film titled “The Jacket” from director Mathijs Poppe. This move comes before the international debut of this film in the prestigious IDFA’s Luminous selection.
The Jacket” depicts the life of Jamal Hindawi, a Palestinian man who resides in exile with his family within the Shatila Refugee Camp in Beirut, Lebanon. Alongside his companions, he crafts political theater that reflects their ties to their native land, Palestine, and their experiences as refugees living in Lebanon. As Jamal sets out on a quest to recover a crucial theater prop, he encounters the devastating effects of recurring political and economic upheavals across the region and its inhabitants.
Poppe initially encountered Jamal approximately thirteen years ago, during his visit to the Shatila refugee camp at the age of 19. “I volunteered at a youth center within the Shatila camp and decided to bring a camera along to record interviews with the individuals I met there,” he reminisces. “My intention was to create a documentary about the camp and the circumstances faced by Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.
Initially, I captured the warmth with which people welcomed me, but then realized I was repeating mistakes common among other media outlets. My uninformed questions reinforced stereotypes, portraying them as victims rather than individuals. Sadly, my images seemed meaningful only in a world that consistently perceives Palestinians as victims. Rather than using the camera to bring people closer, it appeared to widen the gap. With a heavy heart, I chose not to use the footage upon returning to Belgium.
In the time that followed, it struck me that altering the dynamic between the filmmaker and subject was crucial for changing the narrative. To give insight into the process of creating a movie, I proposed using fictional scenarios to my acquaintances in Shatila. This way, we could collaborate on telling a story. Given Jamal’s theater background, I invited him and his family if they were interested in working together with me on this film project.
During the creation of his graduation film at KASK school of arts in Ghent, “Ours Is a Country of Words (2017)”, he found a strong bond with Jamal. It was during this period that I realized, through his commitment to storytelling and acting, how steadfast his dedication truly was.
He mentions: “During that period, I spent so much time at Jamal’s house and with his family that we became extremely close friends. There was an unspoken bond of trust between us. As Jamal shared stories about one of the plays he had created with his companions, it dawned on me that his creative approach, as a method to cope with his exiled status, could serve as the foundation for a fresh film project.
The Jacket” was created by Elisa Heene, and it’s a collaborative effort with Elisa Sepulveda Ruddoff, Mirage, Family Affair Films in the Netherlands, and Placeless Films in Lebanon, all working together through coproduction.
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2024-10-16 11:16