The Bedouin film "Eid" by Yosef Abu Madegem, whose screenplay was written by Kaid Abulatif, won the best film award at the 41st edition of the Jerusalem Film Festival this week. The best actor award went to Shadi Marai, who plays the lead role.
The 90-minute movie is inspired by a personal story. The one of Eid, a construction worker who lives in Rahat in the Negev. His dream is to create a theater, but for this young Bedouin, this path appears almost impossible. His parents, who consider family as a supreme value, arranged a marriage for him as part of a dowry deal, involving him and his sister marrying two siblings from another family. Having no choice, Eid marries Abir, who symbolizes prison for him. At the same time, he secretly wrote a play based on a sexual assault committed in his childhood by a local man. He also maintains a Skype connection with Donia, a Parisian actress, who helps him write. Thus, Eid lives on the border between his inner world and the life intended for him. He cannot leave his life, but fights for his freedom within the limits imposed on him. When he goes to Paris to pursue his dream, his love is not waiting for him there. With a play ready and pride in his heart, Eid returned to Rahat – but no one was interested in his work.
“Eid” was voted best feature film of the season. The members of the jury of the Academy of Cinema considered that it is "a sensitive, mature and authentic representation of maintaining self-respect in a rigid environment subject to a tradition which is in contradiction with the unsatisfied love, but which leads to reconciliation and forgiveness".
A beautiful film produced by Hagi Arad, Elad Peleg, Shlomi Elkebatz and Galit Kahlon which perfectly captures the tension between the weight of traditions and the dreams of emancipation of young Bedouins.
A very promising reward for the future of talents from the Bedouin community in Israel.
Link to watch the movie: https://israelfilmacademy.co.il/?item=334047§ion=2296&fbclid=IwY2xjawEQaLBleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHTDJ-YobeQ6PiN5DHhvaPUEjWX5I3UuZm4KZkm977Ypxfrr57QTZHX5ztw_aem_vBsq1WWwuWmwcmvxpwyAEw
Caroline Haïat
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