original title:
200 Meters
italian title:
200 metri
directed by:
cast:
Ali Suliman, Lana Zreik, Anna Unterberger, Motaz Malhees, Gassan Abbas, Nabil Al Raee, Mahmoud Abu Eita, Samia Bakri Qazmuz, Rebecca Esmeralda Telhami, Ghassan Ashkar
screenplay:
cinematography:
Elin Kirschfink
editing:
Kamal El Mallakh
set design:
Bashar Hassuneh
costume design:
Fairouze Nastas
music:
Faraj Suleiman
producer:
May Odeh, Francesco Melzi d'Eril, Marco Colombo, Julia Gebauer
production:
Odeh Films, MeMo Films, Adler Entertainment, Metaphora, Film Skåne, Way Feature Films
distribution:
I Wonder Pictures [Italy], Synapse [Argentina], Synapse [Bolivia], HBO Europe [Bosnia and Herzegovina], Synapse [Brazil], HBO Europe [Bulgaria], Film Movement [Canada], Synapse [Chile], Synapse [Colombia], HBO Europe [Croatia], HBO Europe [Czech Republic], Synapse [Ecuador], Shellac [France], Cinobo [Greece], Synapse [Guatemala], Synapse [Honduras], HBO Europe [Hungary], Synapse [Mexico], HBO Europe [Montenegro], Synapse [Peru], HBO Europe [Poland], HBO Europe [Romania], HBO Europe [Serbia], HBO Europe [Slovakia], HBO Europe [Slovenia], Filmarti [Turkey], Film Movement [United States], Synapse [Venezuela], Netflix [Worldwide]
world sales:
country:
Palestine/Jordan/Qatar/Italy/Sweden
year:
2020
film run:
90'
format:
colour
release date:
25/08/2022
festivals & awards:
Mustafa and his wife Salwa live 200 meters apart in villages separated by the wall. One day he gets a call every parent dreads: his son has had an accident. Rushing to cross the Israeli checkpoint, Mustafa is denied on a technicality. But a father’s love won’t give up and he will do anything to reach his son. A 200 meter distance becomes a 200 kilometer odyssey, as Mustafa, left with no choice, attempts to smuggle himself to the other side of the wall.
DIRECTOR’S NOTES
I carry lots of memories that I no longer have access to, or it could be that I fear to dwell on them. Oppression does alienate you as it denies your basic rights; especially when you start adapting to it! A forced separation aches a lot. 200 Meters is my story and the story of thousands of Palestinians, and stories can definitely alter lives. I believe in the power of the cinema and how it touches our lives in magical ways. I need to tell this story. Images of the wall, checkpoints and soldiers are probably what come to mind when Palestine is mentioned. Although these images are also in this film, the focus will be on what such a separation does to us as human beings. And to shed more light on the invisible barriers and walls that are created as a result of the physical barrier. Here in Palestine, we got used to adapting to new situations, doing as we are told and camouflaging our feelings. But this should no longer be acceptable. Freedom of movement is a very basic human right that seems to be a fairytale in such a brutal reality. The main character Mustafa has obeyed the rules, endured the humiliation and done as he was told in order to secure a small chance to be with his family, but when the same rules that alienated his life put his family and fatherhood at stake, will he obey them any longe