"Writers on the Borders" by Samir Abdallah & José Reynes (2004)

Documentary - English, French, Italian, Chinese, and other narration, with English sub-titles

Approx. Length: 80 mins.

Description:

A delegation of internationally-renowned writers and intellectuals travels to the Occupied Palestinian Territories -- in part to participate in a cultural event in honour of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, but also to see first-hand life under Israeli military occupation.   The delegation includes Russell Banks (U.S., author of The Sweet Hereafter and Affliction), Bei Dao (China, famous exiled poet), José Saramago (Portugal, winner of the 1998 Nobel Prize for Literature), and Wole Soyinka (Nigeria, winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize for Literature).   The film is narrated by these and other writers -- in a variety of languages – with eloquence and passion, as they compare and contrast their experience in Israel and Palestine to injustices in their own homelands.   

Distribution E-mail (L'Yeux Ouverts): frontieres@hotmail.com

Film information: http://www.ecrivainsdesfrontieres.org

Canadian Screenings: Calgary