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Filmmaker Areeb Zuaiter’s memories of returning to Gaza as a four-year-old are rich with images of her mother’s enrapturing smile as she swayed and danced joyfully to the rhythmic lull of the waves on the Gazan shore. Years later, Zuaiter comes across a video of a young parkour athlete in Gaza named Ahmed Matar with whom she develops a friendship that unfolds over the course of almost 10 years. An exploration initially fuelled by nostalgia and a yearning to rediscover her homeland becomes a window onto the stark realities of life in Gaza, revealing the oppressive laws and hardships faced by Palestinians on a daily basis. In an extraordinary debut, Zuaiter creates a poignant and heartfelt intertwined journey of identity and the pursuit of belonging grounded in intimate exchanges between Zuaiter and Matar from different vantage points. Yalla Parkour provides a final sighting of the landscapes of Gaza—already devastated prior to October 7, and which have since seen complete obliteration. Lauren Clarke.

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Sales Agent: ArtHood Entertainment

Credits

  • Director(s)

    • Areeb Zuaiter
  • Producer(s)

    • Basel Mawlawi
  • Executive Producer(s)

    • Lisa Nyed
    • Basel Mawlawi
  • Character(s)

    • Ahmed Matar
  • Writer(s)

    • Areeb Zuaiter
    • Phil Jandaly
  • Editor(s)

    • Phil Jandaly
  • Cinematography

    • Ibrahim Al-Otla
    • Marco Padoan
    • Umit Gulsen
  • Composer

    • Diab Mekari
  • Sound

    • Yehya Breshe
  • Visit the film's website

Promotional Partners

Supported by

PEN Canada

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