Life is Beautiful

Al haya helwa

Stills
Book Tickets
In this poignant portrayal of displacement, a young Palestinian filmmaker, stranded in Norway, documents his struggle for residency amid tensions at home.
Director Mohamed Jabaly embarked on a student trip to Norway, leaving behind a troubled situation in Gaza. As his trip neared its end, the borders to his homeland were forcibly closed for an unspecified period. As a result, Mohamed found himself in a state of limbo, unable to leave the Arctic Circle city of Tromsø and the host family he was staying with. Taking the form of a video diary, this film records Mohamed's efforts to obtain residency in Norway. His calm voiceover, often playing over stunning images of the Norwegian landscape, contrasts with the sense of unease he feels when he thinks of home. Both urgent and poignant,Life Is Beautiful presents a moving and alternative take on what it means to come from Gaza.
 

Film details

  • Director(s)
    Mohamed Jabaly
  • Country(s)
    Norway, Qatar, Palestine
  • Year
    2023
  • Duration
    93 mins
  • Executive producer(s)
    Mohanad Yaqubi, Anne Fabini, Esther van Messel / First Hand Films
  • Producer(s)
    KriStine Ann Skaret / Stray Dog Productions AS , Sarah Winge-Sørensen / Stray Dog Productions AS
  • Cinematography
    Mohamed Jabaly
  • Editing
    Erland Edenholm
  • Sound
    Anna Nilsson
  • Language(s)
    Arabic, English, Norwegian
  • Subtitles
    English Subtitles Throughout
  • Certification
    Unclassified 18+

Book tickets

Life is Beautiful + Q&A
-
Showroom - Bertha DocHouse Screen 3
English Subtitles Throughout
Q&A with director Mohamed Jabaly, and Shahd Qannam and Amal de Chickera from the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion. Moderated by Naziha Karima Arebi.
Life is Beautiful + Q&A
-
The Light - Screen 9
English Subtitles Throughout
Q&A with director Mohamed Jabaly. Moderated by Tara Brown.

Our Partners