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The Apollo of Gaza

In 2013, an ancient statue of Apollo was found in the waters off Gaza—before disappearing under mysterious circumstances. Is it the work of forgers, or a gift from the gods to a Palestinian people desperately in need of hope? Soon the rumours start to swirl, while behind the scenes local and international players start jostling—some driven by historical preservation and others by purely commercial interests. Filmed in Gaza and Jerusalem, The Apollo of Gaza plays out like a mystery built around a national treasure that is the stuff of dreams. The Apollo of Gaza is an engaging reflection on the …
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In 2013, an ancient statue of Apollo was found in the waters off Gaza—before disappearing under mysterious circumstances. Is it the work of forgers, or a gift from the gods to a Palestinian people desperately in need of hope? Soon the rumours start to swirl, while behind the scenes local and international players start jostling—some driven by historical preservation and others by purely commercial interests. Filmed in Gaza and Jerusalem, The Apollo of Gaza plays out like a mystery built around a national treasure that is the stuff of dreams. The Apollo of Gaza is an engaging reflection on the passage of time and the fragility of civilizations, as well as a poetic and philosophical meditation that immerses us in the often-misunderstood realities of life in a place that continues to pay a heavy price for the seemingly endless Israeli-Palestinian conflict—a place where life doggedly carries on, resisting. Like a meteor streaking across the sky, the statue of Apollo brings a moment of light and beauty to Gaza. Can it help restore dignity to a people, revealing a glorious history and fostering pride in a nation often misrepresented and demeaned?

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  • director
    Nicolas Wadimoff
  • collaborating director
    Béatrice Guelpa
  • writer
    Nicolas Wadimoff
  • participant
    Jean-Baptiste Humbert
    Walid Al-Aqqad
    Jawdat Abu Ghurab
    Nafez Abed
    Jawdat Khoudary
    Heyam Al-Bitar
    Sofiane Salman
    Gil Chaya
    Fadel Al-Otol
    Tania Cohen-Uzzielli
    Jean-Michel de Terragon
    Mgr Alexios
    Marc-André Haldimann
    Mohammed Khalla
    Sami Abu Salem
    Sami Ajrami
  • producer
    Colette Loumède
    Philippe Coeytaux
  • images
    Franck Rabel
  • sound
    Carlos Ibanez Diaz
  • editing
    Christine Hoffet
  • narration
    Bruno Todeschini
  • sound design
    Benoît Dame
  • music
    Claude Fradette
  • editing consultant
    Karine Sudan
  • supplementary footage
    Nicolas Wadimoff
    Sylvestre Guidi
  • assistant director
    Aya El-Zinati
  • driver
    Haman Ahmed
  • production manager
    Séverine Pisani
  • technical advisor - camera
    Steve Hallé
  • translation
    Naïma Bachiri
  • subtitles
    Naïma Bachiri
  • transcription
    Kenza Wadimoff
    Léo Tarazi
  • editing assistant
    Mykyta Kryvoscheiev
    Philippe Lefebvre
    Ariane Turmel-Chénard
  • technical support - editing
    Pierre Dupont
    Isabelle Painchaud
    Patrick Trahan
  • infographics
    Mélanie Bouchard
  • titles
    Mélanie Bouchard
  • online editing
    Yannick Carrier
  • sound editing
    Jérémie Jones
  • foley
    Stéphane Cadotte
  • foley recording
    Luc Léger
  • narration recording
    Maxence Ciekawy
    Xavier Lavorel
  • re-recording
    Serge Boivin
  • legal advisor
    Christian Pitchen
  • media relations
    Nadine Viau
  • marketing manager
    François Jacques
  • marketing assistant
    Jolène Lessard
  • administrator
    Sia Koukoulas
  • production coordinator
    Chinda Phommarinh
    Gabrielle Dupont
  • administrative assistant
    Pascale Savoie-Brideau
  • technical coordinator
    Mira Mailhot
  • line production
    Mélanie Lasnier

Education

Ages 13 to 18

Notes

Brief “lesson launcher type” activity or a series of inquiry questions with a bit of context: 

Documentary about a classic sculpture of Apollo that’s found in Gaza, Palestine, and then mysteriously disappears. French poetry read throughout with beautiful images to accompany the reading. What might have been the purpose of the documentary filmmaker in weaving poetry throughout the film? What does it add to the general theme and mood of the film? How might the circumstances surrounding the discovery of this statue have been different if it had not been found in Palestine? Does Palestine’s political situation influence the arts? How so? Research the history of the contested land in Palestine. What sorts of challenges do the Palestinian people continue to face on a daily basis? How might the conflict be resolved? 

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The Apollo of Gaza
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