SPACES OF EXCEPTION
2023, dirs. Matt Peterson and Malek Rasamny
USA, Palestine; 85 min.
In English and Arabic with English subtitles
This documentary film profiles the terrains of the Indian reservation and the Palestinian refugee camp - “spaces of exception” - that have become essential in the struggle for decolonization and indigenous autonomy. Shot between 2014 to 2017, Spaces of Exception observes and juxtaposes the communities and struggles of the American Indian reservation and the Palestinian refugee camp. It visits reservations in Arizona, New Mexico, New York, and South Dakota, as well camps in Lebanon and the West Bank, “places defined by their historical and spiritual resistance” in order to “understand the conditions for life, community, and sovereignty.” While the histories are distinct, dispossession and loss unite these communities in solidarity, and the alternating stories highlight both their unique tragedies and their revolutionary commonalities. Mostly eschewing archival footage, Spaces of Exception showcases the present, in which each day lived is itself an act of resistance.
Preceded by the short films:
عَ السطح / On the Rooftop
2023, dir. Noor Al-Terri, 3 min.
In Jabalia Refugee Camp, the most densely populated camp in a very small space, life and laughter emerged from its alleys. There, guests are invited to share a cup of mint tea, and because not all surfaces are made of stones and wires, life is created on rooftops with flowers and green leaves.
THE SOUND OF CLOUDS
2024, dir. Mohammad Lotfali, 4 min.
The children of Gaza write their names on their hands so that in case of the worst happening, rescuers can identify them.
EXCEPTION
2024, dir. Rodrigue Hammal, 32 min.
When a leaked video of his lecture on the Psychology of Oppression goes viral and sparks accusations of anti-Semitism, tenured Palestinian-American professor Karim Hadawi finds himself at a crossroads with a harrowing ultimatum.
