THEMOVIES

A heartbreaking collection of 22 short films that shows how art can thrive even in the darkest times. These shorts are cinematic diaries shot in between and sometimes during Israeli bombing raids. Each short is unique in its conception, presenting emotional displays of creativity in a collage of human voices, young and old, male and female—people of Gaza for whom violence and grief have become part of the routine of everyday life. Flashback, tells how a young girl uses music to escape from her traumatic memories; Echo consists of the recording of a distressed call; Awakening uses puppets made from pieces of rubbish to tell a heartfelt domestic scene; Sorry Cinema tells the story of a filmmaker who puts his work on hold in order to survive. A shot in which the clapperboard is used for firewood becomes a powerful metaphor for sacrifice. From Ground Zero isn't just a mosaic of excellent short films. It is an incredibly important work of art that gives the filmmakers the power to have their voices heard.