Giraffada (Palestine)

Once again we find a topic that has never been experimented with to date.  How many of you would have thought of making a movie or being able to watch one that was based on a principal character of a Giraffe? Now juxtapose that into a setting that is the strife ridden state of Palestine and you have a movie that is not just a great concept but definitely endearing as well.

Yacine (Saleh Bakri) is a veterinarian based out of a Palestinian town that is in the West Bank.  The sequences are actually shot in the region where one can see the huge tall walls between the 2 regions that cannot see eye to eye.  And don’t forget the emphasis on those elaborate check posts that are ominous enough to prevent you from even getting the idea of a need to travel to the other side.  No matter what the reasons are.

Believe it or not, in this not the most pleasant territory in the world, is a zoo.  And in the zoo, we have 2 giraffes.  They are called Rita and Brownie and are taken care of by Yacine along with his son of around 10 years, one can assume, Ziad (Ahmed Bayatra).  Ziad’s only relationship other than the one with his father is that he has with R&B.  He has lost his mother a long time ago.

Of course most of you would be aware that bombings are quite routine in the strip and it is during one of those instances that Brownie falls victim.  With little or no sources available to help, Brownie passes away leaving Rita alone.  Rita of course mourns the loss and stops eating.  But things get a bit difficult because Yacine and Ziad realize that Rita is pregnant.  If they don’t get her to start eating, they lose both mother and baby.

Now where does one get a male Giraffe in that part of the world or if required, into that part of the world? That’s where the fun part of Giraffada starts.  And that’s where many aspects of the story come up one by one.  Firstly a French veterinarian, Laura (Laure De Clermont), comes from across the border to help.  In a few days, a relationship builds between Laura and Yacine – one than Zaid doesn’t feel too great about.

The three of them do find a male giraffe finally.  But guess where? On the other side of the border – the one that is not too welcoming to Palestinians.  The most amazing part of the movie is when the Giraffe finally walks into the West Bank after several other exciting times en route.  The expressions on the faces of the cast are priceless and as natural as it can get.

Rani Masallah has spared no effort in ensuring that Giraffada is shot in the most natural circumstances.  For just handling the Giraffes, he should be given full marks.  Of course then there are the minor aspects of shooting in The West Bank when there is shelling all around you.  And of course the not so difficult part of getting a ten year old to emote the right way – probably the only place where Rani doesn’t come upto the mark.  Really good watch.  7 on 10.

Watch the trailer on http://www.premiere.fr/Bandes-annonces/Video/Girafada-VOST