The Clown Of Gaza

How does one maintain an uplifting practice in the midst of genocidal devastation? Director Abdulrahman Sabbah attempts to answer this question through the committed clownery of Uncle Alloush, a professional performer still working – despite gargantuan odds – to alleviate some of the pain and suffering of Gaza’s kids.

A filmmaking feat in and of itself, The Clown Of Gaza follows its titular character through his performances, as well as moments of forced displacement alongside his family and their attempts to return home. This touching film deals with resilience from a new perspective: a person with disability putting on a literal clown persona in the face of mass dispossession and settler colonial violence. (JH)