Forbidden Childhood

original title:

Vietato sognare

directed by:

cast:

Ali Abu Awwad , Bassam Aramin , Elik Elhanan , Jehuda Shaul , Zakaria Zubeidi

screenplay:

cinematography:

Raed Al Helou

editing:

Francesca Mor

music:

Sebastian Meissner

producer:

Alex Ponti

country:

Italy

year:

2008

film run:

92'

format:

HD - colour

status:

Ready (09/08/2008)

festivals & awards:

The impact of the two Intifadas on children and young people growing up in Palestine and Israel. Mixing documentary-style street footage with unusually frank interviews with key participants, the film focuses on Ali Abu Awwad, a former resistance fighter in the first Intifada, now a leading member of the Palestinian non-violence movement. In parallel is Elik El-Hanan, an Israeli ex soldier and now director of the Israeli chapter of the association Combatants for Peace. Each relates their experiences of growing up in a militarised society, and of their desire for peace in the future. Meanwhile, children growing up in Palestine today attempt to survive the occupation, enduring long bus rides and checkpoints to visit their relatives in jail. Are they, too, losing their childhood?