The Myth of Mahmoud (في حالة أستيطان)
Qumra Projects
/ Feature Documentary / Palestine, United States of America, Lebanon, Kenya, Yemen, Jordan, Qatar / 0 min / Apple Pro Res 422
Synopsis
In this reflexive and creative documentary, Mayar (23) picks up the camera to capture the intricate lives of her Palestinian family, who have resided in Doha for over six decades. Against the backdrop of never-ending conflicts in their hometown, Gaza, the family’s Doha home reflects their turmoil, with the focal point being Mayar’s mother, Amal (61), whose grief is concealed beneath a veil of sarcasm. Amal navigates an enduring sense of displacement exacerbated by the loss of her father and residency sponsor, Mahmoud.
Simultaneously, as Mayar makes the United States her new home, Amal confronts the challenging task of determining the family's future place of residency. The end of her residency in Doha, marked by the arrival of the "retirement & end of service" letter, is fast approaching—a reality made more pressing amidst the global political turmoil in the family’s homeland. Alone, she faces the responsibility of deciding where to go and how to care for her elderly mother, Teta and her emotionally unstable sister, Wafaa. But, in the face of the current political climate, a haunting question persists: in a world seemingly devoid of refuge, where will this displaced family find a haven?