Three generations of a Palestinian Bedouin household in Jordan face displacement, racism and household battle in Concrete floora documentary that takes us to a spot and a nomadic life-style that we do not see fairly often on screens. In doing so, the love, humor and resilience of relations are examined.
The primary characteristic movie by Palestinian-Jordanian filmmaker Asmahan Bkerat, which she directed and photographed, had its world premiere on the 79th version of the Locarno Movie Competition. Now the documentary, written and edited by Ban Maraqa, can be screened on the BFI London Movie Competition (LFF). Bkerat and Maraqa additionally produced the movie, for which Odd Slice Movies is dealing with gross sales.
The LFF web site calls Concrete floor “an intimate, multi-generational portrait of a mixed-race household struggling towards displacement and hostility in Jordan. » And he emphasizes: “This quietly highly effective exploration of household ties throughout generations is a narrative of discovering hope and the significance of house. »
Uncover a trailer for the movie, screened within the LFF documentary competitors, from October 8, proper right here.
Earlier than the movie’s presentation on the London Movie Competition, Bkerat spoke with THR on how the household featured within the movie led her to get into filmmaking, why she merely needed to inform their story in Concrete floorand what’s subsequent for her.
How did you first meet the Bedouin household we meet within the movie, and the way did you determine to make a movie about them?
I lived on this identical neighborhood once I was youthful. I lived on the outskirts of Amman. I used to be an remoted little one, at all times removed from the town, as a result of it was not so developed at the moment. I grew up with my good friend Ban [Maraqa]and later in life we attended a movie workshop collectively. Throughout this time we have been simply making an attempt to hang around and [decided to] get out of city. There was a brand new street that was not too long ago opened and I mentioned, “Let’s go test it out.” »After which we noticed an outdated lady with a sheep strolling behind her. It was an enchanting sight.
We met them precisely as we see them within the movie. They go for walks each day and that was my first introduction to the household. However we did not see the tents they stay in and we did not know the place she got here from. We have been simply speaking and provided her tea, and she or he mentioned, “No, come have tea at my home.” So we walked collectively previous some large buildings after which we noticed their tents. This struck me.
Did that instantly provide the thought for the movie?
At first, there was nothing alarming for me. I used to be not a filmmaker. I did not see a narrative. I wasn’t even a documentary fan. The workshop we took was about digital filmmaking, however we remained pals with the household and continued to go to them as a result of we cherished them a lot.
After which two years later, there was a documentary workshop, and we made a brief movie referred to as Badyra on sheep in 2017.
After that, [increased] building began there, and we requested one particular person what was happening and in the event that they wished to maintain the [Bedouins] or expel them. He mentioned: “After all we are going to deport them. » So we determined to speak to the household and inform them the story of what was going to occur. The concept was simply to doc [the process]. At that time, I had no thought what a movie was, although I had made a brief movie. And the household mentioned, “Okay, let’s examine what occurs.” » After which eight years later, we had Concrete floor.
“Concrete land”
Courtesy of Asmahan Bkerat
What number of sequences did you shoot?
A whole lot of hours. Not figuring out what is going on to occur makes you shoot. I used to be ready for an expulsion or a transfer. The film modified so many occasions. At first I used to be drawn to the grandmother and her sheep and I pulled them quite a bit. After which the little woman within the household grew up, she began to develop her persona and I used to be drawn to her. And then you definitely see the daddy. So it ended up being a household movie.
I wasn’t conscious of all the development and the way it displaces folks in Jordan.
Traditionally, Amman is called an agricultural land. It is extremely fertile land and sadly the town determined to develop the capital on this land. Should you drive simply half an hour outdoors of Amman, it turns into a whole desert, a barren land the place you’re feeling such as you’re being suffocated by buildings. There aren’t many parks.
In Jordan, we all know effectively what Bedouin life is like. However the Palestinian Bedouins that we have been filming are a minority inside a minority as a result of they’re additionally Afrobedouins. We all know that the Bedouins coexist with the land. Should you take the land away from them, they need to stay in buildings and quit their lives, as a result of being with the animals means you must be on the land. All through filming, I slowly realized that each time I got here, there was new building, extra land misplaced, extra timber reduce down.
Because of this lack of land, you’ve gotten this household that may’t exist within the metropolis as a result of there is no more room for them, however they need to keep entry to schooling. The nomadic life isn’t simple to proceed, particularly for a displaced household. Traditionally, Bedouins stay inside their tribe, and this household misplaced their tribe, which is in Palestine, so they’re not on their land. They aren’t a part of their neighborhood. They due to this fact face challenges on a number of ranges.
Jordanian Bedouins really get land from the federal government, however Palestinian Bedouins do not as a result of they’re refugees. They don’t have the identical standing. So it is a very complicated and multi-layered difficulty. Even I did not notice till I used to be making the movie how complicated it was.
“Concrete land”
Courtesy of Asmahan Bkerat
Do you see Concrete floor as a technique to additionally present us broader points and matters value discussing past Jordan?
My intention with this movie can also be to mirror what is occurring in Palestine. Afro-Palestinians are usually not solely displaced in Jordan; they’re continually displaced in Palestine. Israel doesn’t acknowledge their existence. Within the movie, we hear on tv that Israel is making an attempt to take over their land. They’re displaced in a technique or one other, and that is mirrored within the title of the movie in Arabic. It’s That is itand it means the one who is misplaced. So this refers to being in a continuing state of loss and having no place to belong.
How did you select the English title, Concrete floor?
I noticed the film was about folks shedding their land, and a part of my expertise residing in Jordan is that the film is usually made from concrete. You continue to solely see concrete. So, Jordan is understood for utilizing concrete in its buildings, and we’re shedding land. So it turned Concrete flooradditionally as a result of the 2 are juxtaposed. Concrete is inflexible, chilly and useless; the earth lives and breathes.
Is there something you need audiences to remove from the movie that we’ve not talked about but?
I need folks to grasp that Bedouin life isn’t synonymous with poverty. Should you see folks residing in a tent, it does not imply they’re poor. That is one thing very tough for folks to realize. Traditionally, Bedouins weren’t poor. They selected this sort of life as a result of they wished it. It is not like they need to, and modernization is at all times higher. This isn’t the case.
Has the household seen the movie?
Not but. They do not have a tv, they do not have a display of their place. And we did not need to present them the film on a small laptop computer. So we’re looking for an answer to ebook a small cinema in Jordan. And we’re making an attempt to get father and daughter to the UK for the competition.
“Concrete land”
Courtesy of Asmahan Bkerat
Will we see extra movies from you?
The best blessing of my life was assembly this household as a result of I’m so completely satisfied to have found the documentary filmmaker’s profession. Although it’s extremely, very, very arduous, I am very completely satisfied to be there and I need to proceed.
I’m producing two movies: a movie a few Palestinian household who returns to Palestine, made out of household archives. And the opposite movie is a few Jordanian farmer and the lack of water in Jordan, as a result of there’s an entire political scenario with Israel stealing water.
I am additionally creating my subsequent characteristic movie, which can also be about displacement as a result of it is one thing that is actually near my coronary heart. It’s one thing that naturally appeals to me as a result of I’m additionally Palestinian.