The reality that surpasses me
Title: The reality that surpasses me
Directed by
Jihen Sebai
Country: Canada
Duration: 8 minutes 52 seconds
SYNOPSIS
Maya, a Tunisian filmmaker residing in Canada, embarks on a quest to produce a documentary centered around Palestine. However, she soon discovers herself entangled in the unyielding grip of reality, which surpasses both her resources and imagination.
Directors’ Bio
Jihen Sebai
Holder of a Master’s degree in Audiovisual Sciences and Techniques and Cinema, I began my career as a video and film editor. Working on both feature-length and short films, as well as several web series such as “Artéfact” aired on Télé-Québec’s La Fabrique culturelle platform, enriched my experience. In 2016, I transitioned to become a screenwriter-director, debuting with a documentary titled “Awledna amena fi idina” (Our Children Are Our Treasure), which was selected for the Panorama Short Film Festival. Additionally, my short documentary “Lache-moi” was selected for the Montreal Women Film Festival. Furthermore, my latest documentary “Le réel qui me dépasse” has been selected for the Chicago Palestinian Film Festival. Beyond filmmaking, I organized an event dedicated to Palestinian cinema titled “Under the Stars of Gaza: Cinema and Whispers around Gaza and Palestine” at the Beaumont Cinema in Quebec
Director Statement
Initially, I was engaged in a filmmaking workshop called Kinomada with a screenplay idea focused on feminist themes. However, I was deeply moved by the horror of the October 7th war in Gaza, which made all subjects seem almost trivial in comparison to the unfolding reality. It was this experience that inspired me to create a film about the challenge of describing reality, where a filmmaker embarks on a quest to create a documentary about Palestine but finds herself overwhelmed by the reality that surpasses her means and creativity.
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