THE STORY – Twenty-two Palestinian filmmakers living through war capture their lives in Gaza over the past year, revealing stories beyond the headlines.
THE CAST – N/A
THE TEAM – Aws Al-Banna, Ahmed Al-Danf, Basil Al-Maqousi, Mustafa Al-Nabih, Muhammad Alshareef, Ala Ayob, Bashar Al Balbisi, Alaa Damo, Awad Hana, Ahmad Hassunah, Mustafa Kallab, Satoum Kareem, Mahdi Karera, Rabab Khamees, Khamees Masharawi, Wissam Moussa, Tamer Najm, Abu Hasna Nidaa, Damo Nidal, Mahmoud Reema, Etimad Weshah & Islam Al Zrieai (Directors/Writers)
THE RUNNING TIME – 112 Minutes
For many, living in perpetual fear of their home being subjected to constant horrors and violence is an unimaginable circumstance. Yet, the war that has raged on in Gaza has been fodder for large-scale destruction and unending torture. When such horror feels ever-present in daily life, there is ultimately a need for expression to vocalize the feelings of heartache but also showcase the vast communities that are forced to assimilate these traumas into the fabric of the everyday. “From Ground Zero” presents a portrait of scattered narratives that all live within this single umbrella of suffering. It aims to imbue its viewers with a greater appreciation for those who cling to hope while defiantly surviving. It is a moving examination of perseverance during unspeakably dark times.
The simplest explanation of the film would be to describe it as an anthology. That is true in that a slew of various filmmakers have all produced their own short films assembled. However, while most anthologies are keen to restrict themselves to only a handful of entries while building out complete narrative arcs, the objective here is much different. These tales don’t interconnect, but most provide snapshots into civilian life in the area and how the war has had a profound effect. Some of these stories are fictionalized accounts, while others are a more documentarian approach; some blur those lines in a manner that enhances the strange reality that has now become omnipresent. Whether digging through rubble in a desperate attempt to find a loved one or attempting to maintain the cyclical routine in the face of violent disruption, the world is treated to a multitude of stories that are all connected by a shared tragedy.
The collection presented here are twenty-two short stories that are meant to highlight the real impact this conflict is having on the region’s citizens, and its existence feels more to satisfy this objective rather than deliver any specific mediation on a character journey or thematic commentary. As most of these segments progress, the major commonality between them is examining just how destructive this war has become, reigning terror on innocent civilians who are blanketed with death on a daily basis. While harrowing and heartbreaking to watch, there is, unfortunately, a sense of monotony that eventually settles in. The stories themselves are not banal in nature by any degree, but the continuous procession of similar depictions does leave some of these individual anecdotes to become interchangeable. This is more of a fault of the short runtimes that each addition is granted, not being able to craft deep storylines to explore that can easily fade into the next testimonial.
That isn’t to say there aren’t some exceptions. There are a handful of tales that do make a stronger impression over others, which is extraordinarily common with anthologies. While many focus on the trials associated with the destruction of homes and family members being killed, “Echo” has a simple and very effective design, playing audio from a phone conversation with people who have endured a bombing while an unknown man sits on the beach. It’s stripped down and stark, but the setting sun on the horizon casts the foreground elements in shadow and crafts a stunning composition. “24 Hours” is another focus on survival, and it is about a man who survived three separate bombings in a single day. The combination of his recounting of actual events with archival footage captured at each incident makes for a powerful portrayal, leaving a significant impact in a short amount of time.
Some of the shorts do veer slightly away from being exclusively documentarian and dabble into fictionalized accounts. “Soft Skin” begins with real children coming together to help create an animated film using different fabrics that move across a stationary background that eventually shows the finished results, and it’s an endearing display that helps to break up the monotone style we’ve been accustomed to until this point. The same goes for “Awakening,” which finds most of its story about a father coming out of a coma and being distraught that his country still finds itself at war despite experiencing conflict decades earlier, portrayed entirely by puppets. The puppets themselves are hobbled together by bits of scrap, further highlighting how the lack of resources in the region doesn’t stop creativity and aspiration. The most striking of these, and truly the best of the entire selection, is “Taxi Waneesa,” which follows a man and his donkey and their travels as a taxi service. It’s a wordless story that casts the dichotomy of this landscape attempting to continue a rich, functioning society while the specter of horror looms large amongst the rubble and piercing sounds of jets. The only element that undercuts its power is its lack of resolution, as the filmmaker explains on camera that the death of her own family prevented the film’s completion. She says what would have been the conclusion, and it’s a shame that such tragic circumstances prevented an even more impactful demonstration. It makes the work all the more haunting because of such events.
Of all the different stories seen in “From Ground Zero,” the one that feels the most representative of all their sentiments is one entitled “Sorry Cinema.” It follows a filmmaker whose dreams and aspirations are now dashed because of the war. It’s a beautiful observation of how moving artistry can be and how unbelievably heartbreaking it is to see one’s passions be abandoned because of the unfolding terror. That is the consistent theme present in each one of these pieces. Lives are completely ruined because of this ongoing conflict. The loss of lives and homes is unimaginable, but the breaking of the spirit is what scars even deeper. It’s inspiring to see such a wide swath of people reveal their pain but still try to maintain their dignity in the face of such atrocity. While the collection itself may not always be the most consistently engaging, there’s no denying the determination it took to assemble these voices for the world to hear. The pain may feel unrelenting, but the calls are full of vibrant perspectives.
