The film screenings continue at Oran’s cinemas as part of the 13th Oran International Arab Film Festival. The Cinematheque hosted the second group of short film screenings. Despite their brevity, these films convey profound and multifaceted messages.

1/ Khaled and Naama: An Adventure to Gather Fragments of Lost Memory

In a Palestinian village threatened with demolition by the Israeli occupation, lives Khaled, a ten-year-old Bedouin boy, and his loyal goat, Naama. They embark on a mission to restore the memory of Abu Maryam, who has lost his memory due to Alzheimer’s disease.

Khaled wanders through the village, questioning its elders to learn about their village’s history, their memories, and what they know about Abu Maryam. His aim is to repair, preserve, and rescue a collective memory from the depths of oblivion.

 The child ultimately succeeds in reminding the old man of his identity, history, and past by gathering the fragments of his memories into simple symbols, which he collects in his red hat, a symbol of struggle and eternal resistance. Palestinian director Suhail Dahal stated that the short film demonstrates the power and importance of memory, and the necessity of passing it down through generations to preserve identity. Memory is a tangible, powerful thing that Palestinians cherish and carry with them wherever they go. Dahal also deliberately showcased the village and the natural beauty of the Bedouin region, as well as the brutality of the destruction wrought by the Israeli occupation, focusing on the collective memory passed down orally from generation to generation.

 2/ The Last One: An Attempt to Live Life Before Death

The short film revolves around Tawfiq, an eighty-year-old man living alone after the death of his wife. He spends his time within the walls of his sorrowful house, watching television, dusting his wife’s photograph, sweeping the floor, and cleaning the place. After receiving news of the death of another friend, he discovers that everyone of his generation is dying one after another. His turn will soon come. A chance visit from a beautiful young woman to his home turns his life upside down, a wake-up call that prompts him to decide to live before he dies. He tries to meet a woman, to love, to laugh, to talk… He refuses to rely on virtual dating sites and apps. He prefers going to a bar where he meets a woman his own age, sharing his laughter and giggles after years of silence and stillness.

The Lebanese short film is directed by Karim Rahbani and stars Afif Mazboudi.

 3/ Zahra: When Hope is Shackled

Zahra is a simple worker in a sewing factory. Her husband emigrated and disappeared without a trace, leaving her in the final days of her pregnancy. Alone, she struggles to survive and tries to save money for a cesarean section by working extra hours at the factory. After losing hope of raising the necessary funds, Zahra confesses to a crime she didn’t commit, just to ensure a safe delivery and guaranteed care for herself and her newborn in the prison hospital. The short film sheds light on the dire conditions faced by ordinary workers who are deprived of their most basic rights in companies like the sewing factory. She works tirelessly without rest, despite her meager income, only to be rewarded on Labor Day with blue balloons decorating the place, as if their efforts were in vain. Director Hadi Shatat stated that he drew inspiration for the balloons from his own experience with a company that laid off 400 workers and rewarded them with a party and balloons. He also explained that the blue balloons symbolize hope, a hope bound by restrictive rules. Just as the barbed wire surrounding the factory wall tied the string of the last balloon, preventing it from soaring freely in the sky.

4/ In Three Layers of Darknesses: Searching for a Visa for Freedom

This short film by Tunisian director Houssam Sallouli tells the story of a young Tunisian man seeking a visa to emigrate to Europe, dreaming of a better future that would allow him to develop his talents and abilities. Like many young Tunisians and North Africans, he is rejected every time. He tries again and again, with the same result. Each rejection plunges him deeper into sadness and anger until he finally loses hope. The director drew inspiration for the film from the experience of a friend. A Tunisian female director had made a short film, but despite numerous attempts to screen it in European countries, she was unable to obtain a visa. This deeply affected him and motivated him to make a short film on the same subject. The film’s protagonist stated that the visa issue poses a significant obstacle for many talented young people, preventing them from developing their skills and sharing their talents abroad. He added that while European countries claim to uphold equality and freedom, they do not treat all nationalities equally when it comes to visa requirements, restricting their freedom of movement. In his short film, “In Three Layers of Darknesses,” director Houssam Sallouli focused on imagery, allusions, symbolism, and screen framing techniques, but neglected character development and the script.