Noce en Galilée (Wedding in Galilee)

Michel Khleifi made his breakthrough in 1987 with Noce en Galilée, a film that garnered significant attention at Cannes and made its debut at Film Fest Gent later that same year. The film tells the story of an aging patriarch in a village in Galilée, under Israeli occupation, who requests permission from the military authorities to hold his son's wedding. The Israeli army, wary that the celebration might turn into a political demonstration, ultimately grants permission - on the condition that several high-ranking Israeli officers attend the festivities. This compromise, however, sparks discontent among some of the villagers. Khleifi not only captures the heartwarming beauty of a traditional Palestinian wedding, but also the underlying tension between Palestinians and Israelis. Noce en Galilée is a grand and generous film, steering clear of simplistic dualism. Its structure echoes a Greek tragedy, imbued with poetry and humanism, reflecting the complexity of life in a land marked by conflict.