Jumana Manna’s film offers a distinctive take on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the form of a chase film between local villagers foraging wild herbs and the Israeli nature patrol. Although Palestinians have been using these herbs in their culinary traditions for generations, their collection has been criminalized by the government under the guise of conservation efforts. By using humour to lighten the mood, this meditative film artfully merges documentary and archival material with staged scenes. The detached gaze of surveillance, contrasted with the intimate presence of the villagers on the land, eloquently exposes the powers of ongoing colonial control.
— Editorial Team

competition : International Feature Competition

Foragers