DIFF FILMS

FOR THE YEAR 2011

HABIBI

Winner of Muhr Arab / Feature /Muhr Arab Feature – Best Film :Susan Youssef (Director)
Winner of Muhr Arab / Feature /Muhr Arab Feature – Best Actress :Maisa Abd Elhadi (Actor / Actress)
Winner of Muhr Arab / Feature /Muhr Arab Feature – Best Editor :Susan Youssef (Editor)
Winner of FIPRESCI /FIPRESCI Arab Feature :Susan Youssef (Director)
Winner of Muhr Arab / Feature /Muhr Arab Feature – Best Editor :Man Kit Lam (Editor)

Palestine, U.S.A., Netherlands, United Arab Emirates / 2011 / Arabic dialogue with English subtitles / Colour / DCP / 78 mins

Genre: Drama, Romance

Cast & Credits

Director: Susan Youssef
Producer: Man Kit Lam, Susan Youssef
Scriptwriter: Susan Youssef
Cinematographer: PJ Raval
Editor: Man Kit Lam, Susan Youssef
Composer: Menno Cruijsen
Cast (in alphabetical order): Kais Nashif, Maisa Abd Elhadi

Synopsis

“Habibi,” a story of forbidden love, is the first fiction feature set in Gaza in over 15 years. The film is a modern re-telling of the legendary tragic romance ‘Majnun Layla’, which was set in seventh century Arabia, when a poet named Qays fell in love with Layla. Driven by the intensity of his passion, Qays was known as ‘Majnun Layla’, which translates as ‘madman for Layla’. In the contemporary setting, two students in the West Bank are forced to return home to Gaza, where their love defies tradition. To reach his lover, Qays graffiti’s poetry across town.

Contains: 15+