Palestinian Director Mohanad Yaqubi's Latest Film Pays Tribute to Lebanese Filmmaker Jocelyne Saab
In a poignant tribute to Lebanese filmmaker Jocelyne Saab, Palestinian director Mohanad Yaqubi has unveiled his latest film, "Revolutionaries Never Die," at the Cairo Film Connection. The film is a masterful archival work that explores Saab's first decade of filmmaking, spanning from 1973 to 1983.
Yaqubi's journey began when he gained access to 115 reels directed by Saab between those years. A pivotal moment came when his family's house was bombed in Gaza in April 2024 - a scene eerily reminiscent of one in Saab's 1982 film "Beirut My City." This connection sparked a deep understanding of Saab's work, and Yaqubi saw the value in preserving her legacy.
"It's as if she's making the film and I'm the instrument making this happen," Yaqubi said, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between his own experiences and those of Saab. By examining her films, he aimed to distill their essence and convey a sense of hope for change.
Yaqubi's fascination with Saab stems from her exploration of the Arab left and the Arab mentality's tendency to repeat patterns. He sees parallels between her work and the ongoing situation in Gaza, where brutal violence continues to escalate. By examining archives, Yaqubi hopes to shed light on these issues and create a dialogue that fosters understanding.
Ultimately, "Revolutionaries Never Die" is not about creating images but about sparking a genuine conversation among those who have been silenced by oppression. For Yaqubi, this film represents an opportunity for Palestinian voices to be heard and for the Arab world to engage with its own history.
By showcasing his project in the Cairo Film Connection, Yaqubi aimed to tap into an Arab audience that he hopes will serve as a platform for discussion and dialogue. This marked the first market where his film would debut, and Yaqubi believes it's crucial to have an Arab base for this project.
In a poignant tribute to Lebanese filmmaker Jocelyne Saab, Palestinian director Mohanad Yaqubi has unveiled his latest film, "Revolutionaries Never Die," at the Cairo Film Connection. The film is a masterful archival work that explores Saab's first decade of filmmaking, spanning from 1973 to 1983.
Yaqubi's journey began when he gained access to 115 reels directed by Saab between those years. A pivotal moment came when his family's house was bombed in Gaza in April 2024 - a scene eerily reminiscent of one in Saab's 1982 film "Beirut My City." This connection sparked a deep understanding of Saab's work, and Yaqubi saw the value in preserving her legacy.
"It's as if she's making the film and I'm the instrument making this happen," Yaqubi said, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between his own experiences and those of Saab. By examining her films, he aimed to distill their essence and convey a sense of hope for change.
Yaqubi's fascination with Saab stems from her exploration of the Arab left and the Arab mentality's tendency to repeat patterns. He sees parallels between her work and the ongoing situation in Gaza, where brutal violence continues to escalate. By examining archives, Yaqubi hopes to shed light on these issues and create a dialogue that fosters understanding.
Ultimately, "Revolutionaries Never Die" is not about creating images but about sparking a genuine conversation among those who have been silenced by oppression. For Yaqubi, this film represents an opportunity for Palestinian voices to be heard and for the Arab world to engage with its own history.
By showcasing his project in the Cairo Film Connection, Yaqubi aimed to tap into an Arab audience that he hopes will serve as a platform for discussion and dialogue. This marked the first market where his film would debut, and Yaqubi believes it's crucial to have an Arab base for this project.
. I think he's kinda overemphasizing the connection between Saab's life and Yaqubi's experiences. I mean, his house gets bombed in Gaza? That's a pretty intense personal experience, but it's not like Yaqubi was born yesterday 
. It feels like he's trying to force a narrative that isn't really there.
. I mean, who wants to watch a film about people repeating patterns and not making any change? Sounds like a bunch of buzzkill vibes to me 
. Where's the excitement? The passion? Give me something with some real energy behind it!
How does he think this experience changed him and made him want to make her films again?
and i'm already blown away by how powerful it looks! as someone who's passionate about representation in film, it's amazing to see a palestinian director taking on this important project and shining a light on lebanese filmmaker jocelyne saab's work 
. yaqubi's journey is really inspiring - from gaining access to 115 reels of saab's films to the bombing of his family's house in gaza, it's clear that he's pouring his heart and soul into this project 
. can't wait to see how it plays out! 
It's like he found a treasure trove of cinematic gold, and I'm not just saying that because I'd love to see some explosive Gaza scenes in my next rom-com 
. Seriously though, I think it's awesome that Yaqubi is using his own near-death experience as a connection to Saab's work - talk about making art out of trauma! 
It's gonna be super interesting to see how this film sparks conversations about the Arab left and Gaza... maybe we'll even get some peace talks out of it (laughs) just kidding, but seriously, let's give this dude some love for preserving Saab's legacy and sharing Palestinian voices with the world 
. It's like he's trying to tell a different story, one that's not just about her movies but about the people who were silenced by oppression 
. I love how he says it's not about creating images but about sparking conversations 
. That's what we need more of - people talking about these issues and sharing their stories 
.
. The way Yaqubi weaves her legacy into his own story is just beautiful 
. He's not just a director, he's a historian and a activist at the same time 
.
. It's like he's saying, "Hey, Arab world, listen up! We need to talk about our own history and our own struggles 
." I'm all for it 
i love how yaqubi is using archival footage to create a dialogue that fosters understanding between different communities 
we gotta keep pushing for change, even when it feels like we're fighting the same battles over again. can't wait to see how this film sparks conversations in arab cinemas 
her story is heartbreaking and I love how Mohanad Yaqubi has chosen to pay tribute to her life's work in such a beautiful way 
it's amazing how he's been able to tap into that experience and create something so powerful and hopeful 
I think we need more people like Mohanad Yaqubi who are using their voices to tell stories that need to be told