Palestine Comedy Club
[A] valuable resource in sharing the Palestinian story with the world.
The Boston Palestine Film Festival ran in person across various venues from October 16 through October 25. Click here for additional info, and watch the site for continuing coverage.
I have always thought of Palestinian cinema as unique in the context of global film. It is the only regional or national industry that essentially does not predate its own occupation. For the entire history of cinema, Palestine has been occupied and Palestinians have been murdered, displaced, ethnically cleansed, and genocided from their own land. As such, Palestinian cinema has a single topic: their historical context. All of this is to say, it is not a very humorous industry. There is joy, yes—and an admirable persistence to love and be loved—and though comedies are not wholly absent (A Gaza Weekend, Thank You for Banking with Us), they are tough to come by.
The first documentary from the new production company Tough Crowd, which specializes in narratives about politics and pop culture, Palestine Comedy Club admirably fills this deficit with a graciously human touch and a cursed documentary timing. Directed by newcomer Alaa AliAbdallah, also known as Regash, Palestine Comedy Club follows six stand-up comedians from across Palestine as they struggle to cultivate a culture of stand-up on their tour across the country.
Continue reading at the Boston Hassle.