As a Gaza native, photojournalist Fatma Hassona documents aspects of the war in Palestine that foreign journalists cannot access. Her tenacious Palestinian voice will not be silenced in this poignant documentary.
An intimate look at the war on Gaza through the unwavering spirit of photojournalist Fatma Hassona. With dreams of traveling the world and a sharp eye for photography, Hassona’s optimistic nature is inspirational. Despite living through incessant oppression and insurmountable loss, her enthusiasm for living provides a unique perspective on life in Gaza.
Intercut with news footage and photographs to emphasise the devastation, Farsi records her video conversations with Hassona with a second phone, as levels of distance become increasingly apparent between them. Hassona dreams of someday enjoying chicken and chocolate again, and a bag of chips as a rare treat. Yet there is no sense of self-pity even as she acknowledges that death lurks in every corner.
Recorded over one year, Farsi and Hassona’s relationship deepened into a mutual respect and friendship. However, the women will never meet, as a mere day after the documentary was selected for Cannes, Hassona was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Farsi’s film is a testament to the resilience of Gazans and a tribute to Hassona’s memory. — Madison Marshall
Roger Ebert – “Iranian filmmaker Sepideh Farsi’s ‘Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk’ is not simply a documentary, but a poignant individual’s record. It is a reminder that every number we see on the news is a complex web of individuality. It’s historical sonder on screen.” (full review here)
Vulture – “The expression that gives the movie its title refers to the anxiety Fatem feels when she walks down the street, be it to take pictures or volunteer at food shelters or simply to get from one endangered spot to another. But it also speaks to a certain openheartedness, to the receptiveness required to be an artist and a human.” (full review here)
Los Angeles Times – “Though Farsi knows how to ask for details about her life in Gaza, the vibe isn’t one of interviews conducted to make a film, but a genuine curiosity and warmth, the ebb and flow of real interaction captured whenever possible.” (full review here)
