Mediterranean Fever
Maha Haj
Palestinian writer Waleed hasn’t published a book in years. Instead of writing, he takes care of his two children and the household, in between suffering from bouts of depression. The days pass agonisingly slowly as he empties the washing machine and struggles with suicidal thoughts – until one day, his new neighbour Jalal knocks on the door.
Maha Haj chooses the dark comedy genre to make the tragedy of everyday Palestinian life accessible to a wider audience through comedic and stylized means – similar to the films of Elia Suleimann, for whom Haj worked as a set designer. The script is informed by a myriad of influences: the many anecdotal outbursts refer to the films of the Coen Brothers as well as the Arabic narrative form of the hakawati (storytellers). Several little scenes that seem to be marginal to the main plot fulfil an important metaphorical function rather than drive the plot forward.
Awards for ›Mediterranean Fever‹
Bestes Drehbuch in der Sektion Un certain regard – Cannes 2022
Maha Haj
Born in Israel, Palestinian director Maha Haj came to film-making following stints with well-known directors such as Elia Suleimann and Adi Adwan. After attending a Baptist school, she studied English and Arabic literature at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem before completing an MA in literature at Haifa University. Her breakthrough came in 2009 with her short film Butuqal. Her feature film Personal Affairs had its world premiere in Cannes and won the Best Feature prize at the Haifa International Film Festival. Central themes in Haj’s films are the inability to communicate, the absurdity of everyday life under occupation and the transgenerational trauma of the Nakba.
Films by Maha Haj
Personal Affairs 2016 | Within These Walls 2010 | Butuqal 2009
