JORDAN-EYES OF A THIEF Oscar entry "Eyes of a Thief" screened to Syrian and Jordanian children in Amman

Record ID: 141108

  • Title: JORDAN-EYES OF A THIEF Oscar entry "Eyes of a Thief" screened to Syrian and Jordanian children in Amman
  • Date: 15th September 2015
  • Summary: AMMAN, JORDAN (SEPTEMBER 14, 2015) (REUTERS) AUDIENCE INSIDE CINEMA
  • Embargoed: 30th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: West bank
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAF0Z60S11G4O22OXUTBJA3S7UX
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Palestinian filmmaker Najwa Najjar recently screened her 2014 Oscar Award entry film "Eyes of a Thief" to a select group of audience in the Jordanian capital Amman.
    More than 200 Syrian and Jordanian children watched the film which was inspired by an incident in Nablus in 2002 when ten Israeli soldiers were killed by a lone Palestinian sniper.
    The story picks up ten years after the shooting when water engineer Tareq emerges from prison in the West Bank and embarks on a journey to find his missing daughter.
    The film dramatises the complexities of the search and the strong bond that inevitably forms between Tareq and a feisty young girl called Malak who not only is the same age as his missing daughter but bears a strong physical resemblance to him.
    Najjar said she wanted the film to depict a different narrative of the Palestinian territories and its people.
    "Culture, and cinema in particular, has the ability to reach tens of thousands or people who will see the [Palestinian] struggle on the big screen. They''ll see a human face, they'll see the Palestinian child, they'll see the woman, who is not always as she is portrayed in the news. The woman who also jokes and laughs. We're trying, through cinema, to show a full picture for various sect of society, both Arab and non-Arab," said Najjar.
    The film starred Egyptian actor Khaled Abol Naga and Algerian singer Souad Massi.
    Tareq is played by Abol Naga whose decision to participate in the film was driven by a strong desire to support the Palestinian film industry.
    But the filming, which took place over 21 days in the West Bank, was not without its challenges.
    "I was worried that this project might not take place, but thank God we were able to get the permits and we filmed the movie. During filming the team was trying to work as fast and efficiently as possible. All the time I would hear the sound of gunshots in Nablus, and they would tell me this was from weddings, I found out later that this wasn't the case. But overall this was an experience I will never forget," said Abol Naga.
    Although it did not get to the list of the nominees for the 2014 Best Foreign Film, "Eyes of a Thief" touched the heart of those who watched it in an Amman cinema recently. Many of the children in the special screening were underprivileged and were experiencing cinema for the first time.
    "The film showed us what is happening in Palestine, and how Israelis attack Palestinians and imprison them. I really enjoyed the movie, this is the first time I ever watch a film," said Fadi Al Assal, a refugee from Syria.
    The screening was organized by the Shams Al Mushriqa foundation, a Jordanian NGO, created with the aim of supporting the underprivileged population, especially women and children with special needs.
    Najjar said the film will be screened in several countries including Scandinavia and the United States.
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