Little Palestine, Diary of a Siege
89 minutes
Abdallah Al-Khatib
Documentary
2021 - Lebanon, France, Qatar
Toronto Premiere
Arabic with English Subtitles
In his directorial debut, Little Palestine, Diary of a Siege, filmmaker Abdallah Al-Khatib offers a glimpse into the daily life of the residents of Yarmouk, the largest Palestinian refugee camp in the world. When the revolution broke, the Syrian regime saw Yarmouk as a refuge for rebels and resistance and set up a siege. Gradually deprived of food, medicine and electricity, Yarmouk was cut off from the world.
With the help of his friends, Al-Khatib document how the lives of Yarmouk’s besieged residents were transformed by war and siege. As the impacts of bombings and starvation intensifies we see residents mobilize to help those in need, and the extraordinary measures they take to survive. The film not only captures the hardships of war but also the perseverance, dignity, love and hope of the people of Yarmouk.
Content advisory: scenes of war and starvation
Awards and Selection
World Premiere: Visions du Réel – April 2021
2021 Vancouver International Film Festival (North American Premiere)
2021 Ajyal Film Festival (MENA Premiere)
