Watched at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.
I rarely have seen much movies from the Wavelengths section since extremely experimental movies can sometimes be a hit or miss for me. It really depends on what movie it is and what I might get out from it.
Kamal Aljafari offers an experimental unfiltered and hazy glimpse of Gaza in the world of the 2001. Which evokes and develops the reality, uneasy, yet realistic nature of the people living in Palestine, and the things surrounding them. Through the lens of POV structure, archive footages and experimental editing lens, it surprisingly resonates well. As the camera moves and footage is shown, you are observing the reality of people who are struggling and living, children being playful and the empathy and meaningful themes, that really relates to the ongoing genocide and conflicts occurring in Gaza to this day.
Aljafari uses his direction and techniques to tell the story differently. Rather then using modern footage, he displays art-house editing, archival footage and direction on the atmosphere to create as if we are seeing the past, come to the present. Which I see as creative and successful with it's message. Using an experimental art-house and avant garde approach to tell the story about Gaza is a unique and interesting approach to be told.
Truth to be told, it's a hypnotic, deeply emotional, moving, and avant garde documentary that succeeds with it's message and purpose.
