In view of the current world situation, there are few films at this year's Cannes Film Festival that are as eagerly awaited as ‘Once Upon a Time in Gaza’, the new work by Gaza-born twin brothers Arab and Tarzan Nasser. It is their third feature film about their homeland - and certainly not their last. Here we tell you what the film has to do with Hamburg.
‘It's a film about ordinary people trying to survive somehow.’ This is how Arab Nasser briefly describes the core of the story in one sentence. If you read the story of ‘Once Upon a Time in Gaza’ on paper, you might disagree at first: The film is set in 2007 and revolves around the young student Yahia, who befriends the charismatic falafel restaurant owner Osama. Together they deal drugs, which they hand out in falafel sandwiches. But they soon have to deal with a corrupt policeman and his oversized ego - and then Yahia is also supposed to become a film star in an action film financed by Hamas. It soon becomes clear that there is a lot going on in this film.
And what is perhaps hard to believe: as with her previous film ‘Gaza Mon Amour’, there are several storylines that are based on real events: ‘The action film that is shot in the film is not fiction. In 2009, the Hamas government decided to shoot the first action film ever in Gaza. They used real weapons and bullets because there was no money for special effects - so everything is the same as in our story. Even the minister's dialogue in the film is said to have taken place in real life,’ says Arab Nasser.
‘Once Upon a Time in Gaza’ was shot in Jordan in November and December 2024, as filming in Gaza is impossible due to the war. ‘Even filming in Jordan was anything but easy. Many insurance companies backed out because there were also major security concerns for Jordan due to its geographical location,’ reveals producer Lena Zimmerhackel from Riva Filmproduktion, which co-produced the film together with Red Balloon Film from Hamburg. In addition to the camera equipment, some of the crew members also came from the Hanseatic city: ‘As with Gaza Mon Amour, we had Tim Stephan from Hamburg with us for the sound during the shoot. He did a great job. With the volume on location, I had temporarily lost hope of good sound. But Tim saved us! During post-production in Portugal, I was told again what an incredible job he did,’ enthuses Arab Nasser.
Work on the script began back in 2015 - so the hostage-taking by Hamas in Israel in October 2023 and the extreme escalation of the conflict that followed are not addressed directly in the story. However, the ongoing state of war in the Gaza region does. You can always hear or see a bomb or rocket exploding in the background. Newspapers and TV sets narrate the political events almost casually. ‘With its special atmosphere and a multitude of subtle messages, the film creates a critical view of the situation on the ground, while still telling its own story.’ says Lena Zimmerhackel.
Around ten years after the initial idea, the film will finally see the light of day at the Cannes Film Festival in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ section in May. Why is Cannes the perfect place for the premiere? ‘First of all: it's CANNES! It's a filmmaker's dream. And it's very important for a Palestinian film to have an international audience there. The film has to be seen - so Cannes is a perfect starting point for us,’ says Arab Nasser.
After three films about Gaza, the brothers never tire of reporting on the situation in their homeland - they themselves now live in France and realize their film projects from here. ‘Our next film will also deal with Gaza. In my opinion, the people there are all heroes. They are resisting to exist,’ says Arab Nasser. At the end of the day, it's about humanity. And about ordinary people trying to survive somehow. Just like in their films.
