Yesterday the Eye Didn't Sleep
A hauntingly beautiful drama by a Palestinian director about sisters forced to atone for a tragedy caused by their brother.
A burning car at the border of Lebanon and Syria catches the attention of a man who has lost his cousin. His search eventually leads to heavy consequences as the peace between belligerent families is broken and the dreams of two sisters are destroyed.
Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep, the beautiful debut by the Palestinian director Rakan Mayasi is a film about honour, consequences and the position of women in society. The long takes of the film introduce us to two Bedouin families and their long-lasting hatred towards each other, which flares up after an act of violence. Through this conflict Mayasi sheds light on how limited the freedom of choice is for women even when they themselves have done nothing wrong.
The genre-bending film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and competed for the Camera d’or, which is awarded to the best feature film by a first-time director. The viewer does think about the camera often while watching the film: the long takes are both quietly melancholic and subtly ominous. The camera work is eloquent and sinister in a way that perfectly encapsulates the mood of the film.
Susanna Puomio (translated by Johanna Järvinen)
Screenings
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Maxim 2Sat 19.9. at 21.00–22.40100 min, 1/3
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Kino Engel 2Mon 21.9. at 20.30–22.10100 min, 2/3
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Kino Engel 2Wed 23.9. at 18.00–19.40100 min, 3/3
Trailer
