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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directorNicolas Wadimoff
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collaborating directorBéatrice Guelpa
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writerNicolas Wadimoff
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participantJean-Baptiste HumbertWalid Al-AqqadJawdat Abu GhurabNafez AbedJawdat KhoudaryHeyam Al-BitarSofiane SalmanGil ChayaFadel Al-OtolTania Cohen-UzzielliJean-Michel de TerragonMgr AlexiosMarc-André HaldimannMohammed KhallaSami Abu SalemSami Ajrami
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producerColette LoumèdePhilippe Coeytaux
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imagesFranck Rabel
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soundCarlos Ibanez Diaz
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editingChristine Hoffet
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narrationBruno Todeschini
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sound designBenoît Dame
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musicClaude Fradette
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editing consultantKarine Sudan
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supplementary footageNicolas WadimoffSylvestre Guidi
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assistant directorAya El-Zinati
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driverHaman Ahmed
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production managerSéverine Pisani
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technical advisor - cameraSteve Hallé
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translationNaïma Bachiri
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subtitlesNaïma Bachiri
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transcriptionKenza WadimoffLéo Tarazi
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editing assistantMykyta KryvoscheievPhilippe LefebvreAriane Turmel-Chénard
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technical support - editingPierre DupontIsabelle PainchaudPatrick Trahan
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infographicsMélanie Bouchard
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titlesMélanie Bouchard
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online editingYannick Carrier
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sound editingJérémie Jones
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foleyStéphane Cadotte
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foley recordingLuc Léger
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narration recordingMaxence CiekawyXavier Lavorel
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re-recordingSerge Boivin
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legal advisorChristian Pitchen
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media relationsNadine Viau
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marketing managerFrançois Jacques
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marketing assistantJolène Lessard
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administratorSia Koukoulas
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production coordinatorChinda PhommarinhGabrielle Dupont
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administrative assistantPascale Savoie-Brideau
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technical coordinatorMira Mailhot
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line productionMélanie Lasnier
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?
