WAITING FOR GIRAFFES
Year: 2016
Country:
NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM, PALESTINE
Language:
Arabic
Run Time:
84 minutes
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
The Qalqilya Zoo, which is Palestine’s only zoo and sits at the border with Israel, is also the world’s only zoo in occupied territory. During the last intifada, many of the zoo’s animals—including their beloved giraffe couple—were killed. The zoo’s vet Dr. Sami has set out to return the zoo to its once respectable form by gaining entry into the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA), which will enable the zoo to add giraffes. But how are they going to find enough space in a territory where even humans are being cornered? WAITING FOR GIRAFFES is a behind-the-scenes look at Dr. Sami’s work in bringing his zoo up to the standards of the EAZA, while fighting constant changeover at the zoo, tensions with Israel, and the politics of being in a country where everything is politics. Dr. Sami’s determination is infectious, and his love and fortitude in taking care of the animals and improving the zoo are incredibly admirable. He’s a man facing insurmountable odds in his quest to bring joy to his people and care for his animals. As this film shows us, passion and focus can bring down walls. (In Arabic with subtitles) —T.W.
CIFF41 Screenings
Thursday, March 30, 2017 at 2:05 PM
Friday, March 31, 2017 at 4:10 PM
Saturday, April 01, 2017 at 12:25 PM
Sidebar
VOICES OF THE ARAB WORLD
Genre
Recommended for High School Students +
Competition
Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Competition
Director
Marco de Stefanis
Filmography
"Tulip Time: The Rise and Fall of the Trio Lescano" (2008), WAITING FOR GIRAFFES (2016)
Producers
Denis Vaslin, Fleur Knopperts
Cinematography
Stefano Bertacchini
Editing
Patrick Minks, Katarina Türler
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