Life for the Palestinian residents of the Aida refugee camp is explored from an unusual perspective in artist Till Roeskens' documentary, in which a half-dozen interviewees draw simple maps of where they live, while describing—in off-screen voices—the locale, restrictions placed on them, and circumstances (often poignant) that brought them there. Each of the six segments presents a powerful indictment of the continuing day-to-day indignities suffered by the refugees. One young girl points out what rooms in her house provide the best shelter during army searches. A man recalls how he worked for years to earn enough money to buy a small farm, only to have it seized and bulldozed over in a single day while he and his father were being questioned by soldiers. A woman mournfully recounts the humiliation of having to pass through Israeli checkpoints, which can be especially daunting in the case of a medical emergency, while another describes how the construction of the Israeli security wall literally cut off her family's home—and its business—from the rest of the neighborhood, bringing financial ruin. Videomappings: Aida, Palestine makes its telling points quietly, by simply recording the muted anger and air of resignation in the subjects' voices. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)
Videomappings: Aida, Palestine
(2009) 46 min. In Arabic w/English subtitles. DVD: $45: individuals; $175: institutions. Lowave (dist. by Action! Library Media Service). PPR. Volume 28, Issue 5
Videomappings: Aida, Palestine
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