The inclusion of a film set in Gaza in the official selection of the Cannes Film Festival comes at a critical moment for the besieged coastal enclave, say Palestinian twin filmmakers Arab and Tarzan Nasser. Their film Once Upon A Time in Gaza, competing in the Un Certain Regard category, premiered at the festival amid heightened global attention on the region. The Nasser brothers emphasized the urgent need to provide an international platform for Palestinian voices and stories, particularly those from Gaza, which often go unheard in mainstream media.
The Nassers have a history of bringing Palestinian narratives to Cannes, having previously screened Condom Lead—the first Palestinian short film to compete at Cannes in 2013—as well as their debut feature Degrade (2015) and Gaza Mon Amour (2020). Their latest film opens in 2007, the year Hamas took control of Gaza, centering on Osama, a low-level drug dealer who runs a falafel stand as a cover for his illicit activities. His assistant Yahya, played by Nader Abd Alhay, manages the restaurant while dreaming of escaping Gaza’s confined existence.
Following a confrontation with a corrupt police officer, the narrative leaps to 2009, a time when Hamas’ grip on Gaza is solidified. Yahya finds himself cast in a cheaply produced TV series commissioned by Hamas, portraying a militant hero who died fighting Israel. Through Yahya, the film portrays an entire generation trapped in Gaza, with limited opportunities and little hope for the future. Tarzan Nasser noted that Yahya’s fate might have been different if Israel had allowed him to leave the Gaza Strip.
The film’s title reflects the unstable and fragmented rhythm of life in Gaza, where events quickly fade into distant memories—“an incident now would become a ‘once upon a time’ tomorrow,” explained Arab Nasser. However, the title now carries a heavier meaning in light of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack in southern Israel, which killed over 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages. This attack triggered a devastating Israeli military campaign that has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians and caused widespread destruction throughout Gaza.
Arab Nasser expressed profound sorrow, saying that Gaza has been reduced to “once upon a time,” as Israel’s bombardment has destroyed the entire region and shattered all aspects of daily life. The memories and history of Gaza, once vibrant and enduring, have now vanished under the weight of devastation and loss.
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