Naseer brothers made a film to highlight the endurances that the Gaza people bore due to the ongoing assault by Israel’s military.

A powerful story that became painfully real:

Gazan filmmakers Arab and Tarzan Nasser unintentionally named their latest film Once Upon a Time in Gaza. The film has now become relevant to the situation that is actually happening in Gaza. The filmmakers never thought about how the film’s name aligned with the present situation in Gaza. The film now feels like a farewell letter to a place that no longer exists due to Israel’s brutality. Israel’s military killed thousands of people, including children, adults, men and women and left Gaza in ruins. The two-million population is now on the brink of famine due to an extended blockade.

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A glimpse into the past to understand the present:

The Nasser brothers left Gaza in 2012. They set their film in 2007. The movie doesn’t focus on politics or war directly. Instead, it follows two young friends, Yahia and Osama, who try to earn money by hiding drugs inside falafel sandwiches. Yahia dreams of escaping the Israeli blockade. He grinds fava beans using a hand-operated machine in the back of Osama’s rundown shop. Meanwhile, Osama collects stolen pills from pharmacies while dodging a crooked police officer. Their story paints a grim picture of everyday life under constant pressure and restriction.

Life under siege:

Tarzan explained the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The blockade began in 2006 and tightened after Hamas came to power. He claimed that it got so extreme that even the number of daily calories allowed into Gaza was calculated. Despite this, the filmmakers say Gazans have shown incredible strength. Tarzan shared, “My father is still in northern Gaza. Our homes are gone, but before that, every time a wall cracked or a window shattered from an airstrike, he’d fix it the next day.”

Beyond the headlines:

Tarzan said that the movie aims to highlight the situation of people in Gaza. “How they live, how they cope, how they love life even in the darkest times.” Naseer brothers feel it’s vital for the world to hear the Palestinian voice at global platforms like Cannes.

Memories of a lost paradise:

Producer Arab Nasser said, “When I was a child, Gaza was like a riviera. I remember the sweet, clean water.” Today, the land is devastated. He sharply criticized world leaders’ plans to rebuild Gaza as a resort. He called them “empty promises made after destruction.”

An eye-opener film:

Critics describe Once Upon a Time in Gaza as “tight and emotionally sharp.” The movie was shot in Jordan but tells a deeply Gazan story. It is a rare and urgent look at life, hope, and survival under siege. It is an eye-opener to the world to open its eyes and witness the massacre spread by Israel of Palestinians.