- Title: Palestinians and Jordanians denounce the film 'Amira' tackling sperm smuggling
- Date: 14th December 2021
- Summary: WOMAN HOLDING A BANNER READING (Arabic): "SUGGESTIONS FOR MOVIES: 1. MARTYR KAYED MIFLAH OBEIDAT, THE FIRST JORDANIAN MARTYR IN PALESTINE 2. PALESTINIAN PRISONER NAEL AL BARGHOUTHI, THE OLDEST PRISONER IN THE WORLD" (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ISLAMIC ACTION FRONT, MURAD AL-ADAYLA, SAYING: "These committees should present the heritage of Jordan as well as the Jordanian and Palestinian history to the public. It is unacceptable to have this committee transformed into offending the principals of the Jordanian nation and its struggles and the resistance of the Palestinian people. We call on the committee to apologize and punish the ones who offended the Palestinian people." GIRL HOLDING A BANNER READING (Arabic): "DO NOT DARE TO OFFEND PRISONERS" (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE JORDANIAN PRISONERS AND MISSING PEOPLE AT THE ISRAELI PRISONS, FADI FARAH, SAYING: "Unfortunately, this movie offends prisoners and this is unacceptable on a popular and national level. We support these prisoners and we have to support them because they are the ones who defended the honour and dignity of this nation, as well as its sacred locations. We have to support them not to betray them." BANNER READING (Arabic): "THE PRISONER'S SMUGGLED SPERM IS PURER THAN YOUR MINDS THAT ARE POLLUTED WITH NORMALIZATION AND BETRAYAL #STOPTHEFILMAMIRA" WOMEN HOLDING BANNERS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERING
- Embargoed: 28th December 2021 13:52
- Keywords: Amman Film Jordan Palestinian cinema movies
- Location: BETHLEHEM AND RAMALLAH, WEST BANK / AMMAN, JORDAN
- City: BETHLEHEM AND RAMALLAH, WEST BANK / AMMAN, JORDAN
- Country: Palestinian Occupied Territory
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Film,Middle East
- Reuters ID: LVA007F80F4GL
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Drama film "Amira", tackling sperm smuggling of Palestinian prisoners, has sparked anger among Jordanians and Palestinians with both calling for the boycott of the movie.
The 2021 fiction film tells the story of a 17-year-old girl, Amira, who has grown-up believing she was conceived with the smuggled sperm of her imprisoned father, only to have her identity questioned when another attempt to conceive a child with her father's smuggled sperm reveals he is infertile.
"Amira", directed by Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Diab, premiered at Venice International Film Festival where it won three awards. It then toured Egypt's El Gouna Film Festival, Saudi Arabia's Red Sea International Film Festival and Tunisia's Carthage Film Festival (JCC), and was submitted by the Royal Film Commission as Jordan's entry to the Oscars.
However, many people expressed their opposition to the film's release, describing it as "offensive" to the Palestinian cause. Among them were wife of Palestinian prisoner Ahmed Mughrabi, Hanadi Mughrabi.
Hanadi, sitting between her twin daughters conceived with her husband's smuggled sperm, recounted how having them was driven by her elderly son wanting siblings.
"I look at the issue on the longer term. When these children grow up and become men and women, how will this film (referring to 'Amira') affect them if it stays?... I demand this film to be destroyed, burnt and doesn't not exist on earth anymore," she said.
In Amman, a number of protesters held banners outside the Royal Film Commission as they gathered to denounce the movie "Amira".
The Royal Film Commission, Jordan's official submitting organization to the Academy Awards, later released a statement in which it said it has decided to withdraw "Amira" for consideration to the 2022 Oscars race.
"We do believe in the artistic value of the film, and that its message doesn't harm in any way the Palestinian cause nor that of the prisoners; on the contrary, it highlights their plight, their resilience as well as their willingness to live a decent life in spite of the occupation," the statement reads.
"However, in light of the recent huge controversy that the film has triggered and the perception by some that it is detrimental to the Palestinian cause and out of respect to the feelings of the prisoners and their families, the Royal Film Commission has taken the decision not to have "AMIRA" representing Jordan for the Academy Awards 2022," it added.
(Production: Hams Rabah, Roleen Tafakji, Muath Freij, Jehad Abu Shalbak, Mohammed Abu Ganeyeh, Adel Abu Nemeh) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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