First film produced by Hamas screens in Gaza

[Peikko 1,575]

Link to this video The film's hero is a young militant, blamed by Israel for the deaths of 13 soldiers and settlers, who was killed at the age of 22 in a firefight in 1993. Many of the actors are Hamas members and, since the movie was finished, four of them have been killed in an Israeli attack. This is Imad Aqel, the first feature film funded by Hamas.

The film began showing at a cultural centre in Gaza at the weekend. Shot on the grounds of Gnai Tal, one of the Jewish settlements evacuated in 2005 when Israel withdrew from the territory, it is a two-hour, action-packed thriller celebrating the life and martyrdom of Aqel, a commander of the Hamas military wing who topped Israel's most-wanted list.

According to newspaper reports, the line that elicits the biggest cheer from the Gazan audience is when one of the characters declares: "To kill Israeli soldiers is to worship God."The film's director, Majed Jendeya, says he hopes to screen Imad Aqel at the Cannes film festival.

The movie was written by senior Hamas member Mahmoud al-Zahar and produced by the interior minister, Fathi Hamad. It cost $120,000 (£70,600) and is the first film to be produced by the Islamist organisation.

"It's Hamaswood instead of Hollywood," said Hamad after the film's premiere last month at Gaza City's Islamic University. "We are trying to make quality art that is Islamic and about the resistance, without provocative (sexual) scenes."

The biopic is just the latest effort in Hamas's media campaign to instil a "culture of resistance" in the territory. It also owns a satellite television station, a radio network and websites, as well as sponsoring art exhibitions, plays and poetry which tell of the harsh conditions in Gaza.

Link

[_Simpson_ 250]

They will let anyone make films these days.

[Peikko 1,575]

Huh?

You don't need a 'permission slip' to make a film

[Jenn! 918]

According to newspaper reports, the line that elicits the biggest cheer from the Gazan audience is when one of the characters declares: "To kill Israeli soldiers is to worship God."

Horrible. I just don't understand how people can ever associate killing with worshiping God. If you're going to defend killing Israeli soldiers, then surely an argument having something to do with defending oneself, one's family, one's people would make more sense. Even for revenge would make more sense. But to worship God?

Edited August 19, 2009 by Jenn!

[_Simpson_ 250]

Its just going to be propaganda and hamas shouldn't be funding films and to top it off there showing it at the University. Its got bad news written all over it

I would like to see it though.

[Peikko 1,575]

I don't think the response to the film is particularly sophisticated, and can one expect it to be in such circumstances?

[_Simpson_ 250]

I don't think the response to the film is particularly sophisticated, and can one expect it to be in such circumstances?

Since when did you start excusing ignorance?

[Peikko 1,575]

I don't think the response to the film is particularly sophisticated, and can one expect it to be in such circumstances?

Since when did you start excusing ignorance?

What are you talking about, seriously? Where is the 'excuse' for ignorance in my post? Understanding how things are is not making excuses for whatever way you slice it - unless you use sleight of hand of course. Are you doing that? Interpreting something so that you can draw some conclusion that can't otherwise be inferred?

[mawilson 2,133]

Great stuff. This Oscar-worthy classic will soon be on my shelf next to the Hamamouse masterpiece.

[_Simpson_ 250]

I don't think the response to the film is particularly sophisticated, and can one expect it to be in such circumstances?

Since when did you start excusing ignorance?

What are you talking about, seriously? Where is the 'excuse' for ignorance in my post? Understanding how things are is not making excuses for whatever way you slice it - unless you use sleight of hand of course. Are you doing that? Interpreting something so that you can draw some conclusion that can't otherwise be inferred?

When this is the response to the film "To kill Israeli soldiers is to worship God." and you say "I don't think the response to the film is particularly sophisticated, and can one expect it to be in such circumstances?" Sounds like your making a excuse to me and even if your not I would still not expect this regardless of the circumstances. Its sick!

[Peikko 1,575]

I don't think the response to the film is particularly sophisticated, and can one expect it to be in such circumstances?

Since when did you start excusing ignorance?

What are you talking about, seriously? Where is the 'excuse' for ignorance in my post? Understanding how things are is not making excuses for whatever way you slice it - unless you use sleight of hand of course. Are you doing that? Interpreting something so that you can draw some conclusion that can't otherwise be inferred?

When this is the response to the film "To kill Israeli soldiers is to worship God." and you say "I don't think the response to the film is particularly sophisticated, and can one expect it to be in such circumstances?" Sounds like your making a excuse to me and even if your not I would still not expect this regardless of the circumstances. Its sick!

I don't think your response is particularly sophisticated. It lacks some very basic understanding of what I have posted. However in your case, I would expect more seeing as you are supposed to have benefited from a first world education.

[_Simpson_ 250]

I don't think the response to the film is particularly sophisticated, and can one expect it to be in such circumstances?

Since when did you start excusing ignorance?

What are you talking about, seriously? Where is the 'excuse' for ignorance in my post? Understanding how things are is not making excuses for whatever way you slice it - unless you use sleight of hand of course. Are you doing that? Interpreting something so that you can draw some conclusion that can't otherwise be inferred?

When this is the response to the film "To kill Israeli soldiers is to worship God." and you say "I don't think the response to the film is particularly sophisticated, and can one expect it to be in such circumstances?" Sounds like your making a excuse to me and even if your not I would still not expect this regardless of the circumstances. Its sick!

I don't think your response is particularly sophisticated. It lacks some very basic understanding of what I have posted. However in your case, I would expect more seeing as you are supposed to have benefited from a first world education.

I don't claim to be sophisticated, I mean after all I am a American is that even possible?