Many large cities have at least one “sister city” somewhere on the globe. Some are based on namesakes like Toledo, Ohio and Toledo, Spain, but others are simple experiments in international brotherhood and diplomacy. Tromsø, Norway and Gaza, Palestine are such sister cities, and this bond saw Mohamed Jabaly leave the city of his birth to visit Norway in 2014. Hoping to learn from other talented filmmakers, Mohamed thought it would be a simple six-month trip and that he could return home before his visa expired. Life had another plan when Israel escalated its military actions against Palestine and closed all entry points to Gaza. This forced Mohamed to reapply for an artist’s visa, but his application was held up when he found out his Palestinian passport wasn’t accepted by the Norwegian government. Trapped in a foreign land and made stateless, Mohamed’s journey of artistic education turns into a forced banishment from the land of his birth.
Often times when I come across a personal documentary, I’m left with the question, “Why was this made?” Life is Beautiful clears that question up very quickly. Mohammed’s story is fascinating from so many angles and highlights some pressing political issues that need to be discussed. Key among them is the existence and validity of Palestinians. Mohammed’s first struggle is whether to abandon his national identity to seek asylum, and he decides his Palestinian identity is worth protecting, both legally and personally. Life is Beautiful is Mohammed Jabaly’s first solo project, and it shows a skill and sheen one would expect of a director’s fifth or sixth film. For that alone, this documentary has a place in any library collection, but as a powerful story of a man made stateless by colonialism, it will be a smash hit on documentary shelves. With five awards and featured at countless film festivals, Life is Beautiful: A Letter to Gaza is a perfect choice for expanding documentary shelves. Highly Recommended.
What academic subject can use this Palestinian identity documentary in the classroom?
Life is Beautiful is especially useful for courses in Middle Eastern Studies, Human Rights, Documentary Film Studies, International Law, and Migration or Diaspora Studies. The film captures the bureaucratic and existential limbo faced by stateless individuals, making it an ideal resource for global politics, refugee studies, or transnational identity seminars. It can also be assigned in film and media programs as an example of deeply personal political storytelling.
Why is this one of the most compelling documentaries on statelessness and identity?
Mohammed Jabaly’s Life is Beautiful is a rare and intimate look at the consequences of displacement, statelessness, and artistic resilience under duress. More than a personal narrative, it’s a vital record of Palestinian cultural identity, colonial legacy, and the red tape that erases people from state systems. Its raw yet polished storytelling resonates with those interested in the intersection of art, politics, and personal survival, making it a standout in both educational and public library collections.