All Films

Omar Amiralay Master Class (al-Hayat al-Yaomiyyah fi Qaryah Suriyyah)

Special Screening

Omar Amiralay / Feature Documentary / Syria, France / 1974 / 90 min / Black & White / HDCAM
In Arabic / English subtitles
Interests: Politics, Social Issues
N/A
Rated: Parental guidance is advised

Synopsis

Everyday Life in a Syrian Village

Still banned in Syria to this day, this was the first documentary to criticise the effects of Syrian agricultural reforms in the 1970s. Through interviews with farmers, welfare workers and police officers, Amiralay explores how the search for truth is an important weapon against dictatorship. This film exemplifies Amiralay as a courageous and innovative force in non-fiction auteur cinema in the Arab world.

About the Director

Amiralay used cinema as a means to engage citizens and reflect their struggle for freedom, democracy and social justice in Syria and the Arab world. His approach to documentary filmmaking continues to define generations of filmmakers. Amiralay’s final film “Everyday Life in a Syrian Village”, is banned as it contains a strong critique of the government’s failure to provide basic amenities to Syrian citizens.

Credits

Director

Omar Amiralay

Screenwriter

Omar Amiralay, Saadallah Wannous

Producer

General Organization for Cinema, Syria

Editor

Qais Zubaydi

Cinematographer

Hazem Baya’a, Abdo Hamzeh

Sound

Sound: Hassan Salem

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