Summary
Wedding in Galilee (also known as Arabic عرس الجليل, transliteration Urs al-Jalil) is a 1987 film directed by Michel Khleifi. It marks the first feature film made in Palestine by a Palestinian director [1] and was awarded the International Critics Prize at Cannes in 1987. Produced during an era when there were scarce cinematic depictions of Palestinian existence, Wedding in Galilee revolves around the marriage ceremony of a young couple in a Palestinian village situated in Galilee, northern Israel.
| Wedding in Galilee | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Michel Khleifi |
| Written by | Michel Khleifi |
| Produced by | Michel Khleifi, Bernard Lorain, Jacqueline Louis |
| Edited by | Marie Castro-Vasquez |
| Music by | Jean-Marie Sénia |
Release date |
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Running time | 100 minutes (Israel) 113 minutes (U.S.) |
| Countries | France, Belgium |
| Languages | Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish |
Plot edit
The film takes place in a Galilean Palestinian village following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The village muktar, Abu Adel, wants to celebrate his son Adel's wedding with a traditional and elaborate ceremony. However, this is inhibited by a curfew imposed on the town by the Israeli military authorities. Abu Adel must ask the Israeli military governor for permission to celebrate his son Adil's marriage past night fall. The governor grants the muktar's request on the condition that he and his staff attend the ceremonies.[2]
The muktar's family is divided on the Israeli governor's attendance, and some members plot to sabotage the party.[1] The film spans two days of mounting tension, which culminates in the groom's failure to consummate his marriage.[2] Blaming his father for the indignity of the wedding, Adil attempts to stab the muktar, but is prevented by his newlywed bride.[2] Ultimately, the bride Samia takes her own virginity so that the stained weddings sheets can be displayed, bringing the ceremony to an end.[2]
Cast edit
- Mohamad Ali El Akili] - Mukhtar
- Bushra Karaman - Mother
- Makram Khoury - The governor
- Yussuf Abu-Warda - Bacem (as Youssef Abou Warda)
- Anna Condo (born Achdian) - Bride
- Nazih Akleh - Groom
- Sonia Amar - Soumaya
- Eyad Anis - Hassan
- Waël Barghouti - Ziad
- Juliano Mer - Officer
- Ian Chemi - Officer 2
- Tali Dorat - Soldier
Awards edit
- International Critics Prize, Cannes 1987
- Golden Shell at San Sebastián International Film Festival, 1987
- André Cavens Award by the Belgian Film Critics Association, 1987
- Tanit d'or at Carthage Film Festival, 1988
- Humanum Prize[1] by the Belgian Film Critics Association
- Joseph-Plateau Awards 1988
- Best Belgian Film at the Festival du Film de Gand
- Best Benelux Film at the Festival du Film de Gand
References edit
Further reading edit
- Gertz, Nurith; Khleifi, George (2008): Palestinian Cinema: Landscape, Trauma, and Memory, Indiana University Press. ISBN 0-253-22007-6. With:
- Wedding in Galilee, p. 88–93,
External links edit
- Wedding in Galilee at IMDb
