Yalla Parkour + Q&A

Name: Yalla Parkour + Q&A
Genre: Documentary
Duration: 1 h 29 min
Cast: Ahmed Matar, Areeb Zuaiter

This screening will have a short 5-minute introduction and will be followed by a 30-minute post-screening Q&A. Filmmaker Areeb visited Gaza for the first time at the age of four, where she experienced her first encounter with the sea. This moment, infused with the magic of the sea and her Palestinian motherʼs smile, left a lasting impression on her. Recently, nostalgia for her homeland resurfaced when she discovered a video of young men practicing parkour on Gaza's sandy shores. Their joy starkly contrasted with the distant echoes of explosions. Longing to reconnect with her past, Areeb reaches out to the parkour team and forms a bond with an athlete named Ahmed. Together, they navigate the remnants of Gaza, exploring places like a cemetery, a run-down mall, and the remains of an airport. As their relationship deepens, Ahmed reveals the harsh realities of life in Gaza, transforming Areeb's initial curiosity into a profound awareness of the struggles he faces. Areeb grapples with feelings of guilt and conflict as she witnesses Ahmedʼs desire to escape the confines of his homeland, understanding the emotional void such a departure would entail. Their journey becomes not only a quest to reclaim memories but also an exploration of identity, belonging, and the haunting legacy of a home left behind. Cinetopia:DOC is a monthly documentary club bringing audiences together to watch, discuss and connect around the documentary genre and craft. We screen exceptional documentary films alongside filmmaker Q&As or conversations as well as offer a space afterwards for continued discussion and networking in the Filmhouse Bar. Cinetopia:DOC is supported by Film Hub Scotland, part of the BFI's Film Audience Network, and funded by Screen Scotland and National Lottery funding from the BFI and the Scottish Documentary Institute and produced by Cinetopia, a hub of activity around filmgoing and filmmaking based in Edinburgh. www.cinetopia.co.uk/docDocumentaryPT1H29M15

Ahmed Matar

Areeb Zuaiter

Yalla Parkour + Q&A"Yalla Parkour + Q&A"

Showtimes

November 19, 5:50 pm