The selflessness of one man can inspire others to follow in his footsteps.
War takes its toll on anyone involved. While selfishness encompasses the globe, those who are risking their lives to help those in need during the conflict in Gaza are anything but it.
Written by Hailey Passmore
For many, it is so hard to imagine what the war in Gaza, as well as the Palestinian conflict, does to those experiencing it firsthand. The footage that the world sees is only ever half the story. No matter how much is shared, we will never understand what they are going through. As the London Palestine Film Festival aims to show films that showcase Palestinian stories to the world, A State of Passion does so greatly. Through a firsthand account, the film not only shares the story of one man trying to save many people’s lives, it also shares more information on the conflict that might not have otherwise been known.
“I cannot unsay what I saw, I cannot unhear the cries and the screams that I heard and unsell the smell of festering wounds”
Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah is a British-Palestinian reconstructive plastic surgeon. From working as a plastic surgeon in the UK, Ghassan spent 43 horrifying days in the emergency rooms of Gaza’s Al Shifa and Ali Ali hospitals. Here, he worked all hours of the day, facing constant bombardment. Not only is it physically draining, but he also sees so many things.
Filmmakers Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi have done something exceptional in their documentary A State of Passion. In following Ghassan’s journey through Gaza, Amman, Beirut, London, Kuwait, and Dubai, they have shared not only the intimate story of a man and his career, but the trauma and destruction that ensues with the Israel-Palestine conflict.
“…the consequences of this scale of bloodshed.”
Footage of Ghassan, pale and shell-shocked, in Gaza’s hospitals resonated with the world. As a doctor in Gaza, he speaks of a number of horrors, including lacerated bodies, amputations occurring without anesthesia, orphaned children, and even the deliberate bombings of hospitals. The scenes are horrid. Through footage shot on the scene to prepared interview settings, there is nothing short of information and knowledge being shared with the viewer.
Even as Ghassan works and fights away in Gaza, his wife and children are at home, worried. To give the audience the chance to connect to his story better, Mansour and Khalidi bring the cameras into his personal life. Mother, wife and sons all speak so highly of him. They share stories from the past, how they feel when he leaves them in London, and how good it feels when he returns. They know that many people in the world look up to him, and though they are left worried, they are proud of the man he has become.
Mansour and Khalidi’s techniques in the making of their documentary present the information in a more viewable fashion. They use multiple styles and forms in their film. We see first-person footage of the events in Gaza, professionally set up interviews, and filmed content of Ghassan and others as they are aware of the documentary being made. Not only is it presented visually through the camera well, but the graphics used also create a comforting aspect - if this word can be used when it is about a subject such as this. Ghassan explains certain events in his life, pre-war and during the war, and they are shown through graphics. Pop-up icons come onto the screen to share the location or even show a voice memo that has been sent and listened to. It is creative and informative in the same context. Creating something beautiful out of a travesty. Not for the beauty to be the focus, but for the audience to have something to digest.
A State of Passion showcases just how one man’s passion can truly be extraordinary. When Ghassan’s footage from Gaza was shared with the world, he became a hero in the eyes of many. Where A State of Passion differs from your typical documentary on one individual is that Ghassan is not in it for the publicity. He is proud of his work and wants the world to see the damage that is being done by the war and conflict. Everything he sees has taken a toll on him, but he will continue to do his work indefinitely.
Another brilliant selection for the London Palestine Film Festival, A State of Passion was part of this year’s programme. Focusing on sharing Palestinian stories, the festival has an intense slate, and this documentary is one of many. Allowing the festival audience to learn not only about Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah, but learn more about the conflict in Gaza as well. These films and documentaries have one goal in mind: to share their lives with the world. To inform people about what is truly happening in this endless war.
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