The screening on 28 February will be followed by a short Q&A with Alaa Shehada, Nabil Abdulrashid, and Libby Knowles.
When six Palestinian comedians hit the road to tour a stand-up show across Palestine and Israel, their search for humour amidst the injustice of everyday Palestinian life becomes a plea for humanity against in the face of brutal war.
The Garden Cinema View:
Weaving together clips from stand up performances and intimate moments, Palestine Comedy Club manages to be both a genuinely funny and engaging portrait of some very likeable people, as well as an accessible and factual exposé of the geopolitical reality of being Palestinian today. Alaa AliAbdallah's direction and editor Libby Knowles' crafty editing allows us to experience the comedians' protracted journey as an immersive and emotional rollercoaster-cum-roadtrip, with the constant shifts in tone infusing levity and joy into the darkest moments.
There is an unavoidable underlying sense of injustice at all the hurdles these comedians face simply getting from one place to another through the checkpoints fragmenting their land and isolating them from the world. Yet, this is a very hopeful film, showcasing Palestinian comedy - a distinct sense of humour which permeates most Palestinian cinema and storytelling - and celebrating the spirit of stand-up comedy more generally.
