Born In Gaza

Born In Gaza is a riveting 2014 Spanish documentary that takes a gritty, close look at the life of Palestinian children living in the midst of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Gaza Strip. The film follows a group of children, their daily lives under continuous risk, and the struggles they encounter growing up in a war-torn region. It is a poignant blow-by-blow account of their resilience, their remarkable spirits and their burning desire to live and enjoy their lives, even amidst the chaos and violence that continually surrounds them.

Directed by Hernan Zin and starring Walaa Eltiti, Yazeed Faruja, among others, the film goes beyond mere documentation of a political conflict. Instead, it presents the human side, the helpless and innocent children who are paying the high price for a conflict they have no part in.

Walaa Eltiti is an 11-year-old girl and one of the main faces of the film. She is presented as a strong, ambitious, and talkative character who deeply desires to become a lawyer instead of an ordinary housewife. She dreams of defending her people against the injustices they face every day even when her own challenges are lifelong scars from an Israeli shell. Bravery is a recurring theme, not just in Eltiti but in all children, as they navigate their days amidst the debris of conflict-ridden Gaza and the dread of the unknown.

Yazeed Faruja, a teenage boy, is another main character in the film. His deep-set eyes tell stories of horrors experienced as a child. Yazeed dreams of traveling beyond the borders of Gaza to explore the world that is free of conflicts and where children can play without fear of being killed.

Born In Gaza was shot during the 2014 war in Gaza, one of the most violent episodes in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The film captures explicit footages of the raging war, streets crumbled into dust, the sounds of gunfire, and explosions resonating all around. Yet from this rubble of despair, it also captures the courage, strength, and the indomitable spirit of these children, who despite their distressing circumstances keep fighting for a normal life.

The real tug at the heartstrings When watching Born In Gaza is the honest portrayal of the children's lives and dreams. While many of them have seen their relatives killed during the airstrikes and have scars of war on their bodies, their innocent desires for education, their games amidst the rubble, their laughter during impossible situations, and the way they cope with their fear and trauma provide a different perspective to the viewers. It brings out a narrative that's frequently lost in the political debates and discussions surrounding conflict zones.

Born In Gaza is undoubtedly grim for the most part, but it's interspersed with moments of levity, empathy, and warmth. Throughout the 78-minute duration of the film, viewers are repeatedly shown the stark contrast between the children's hopeful ambitions and the reality of their calamitous world, painting a powerful picture of the unending human will to survive and thrive amidst adversity.

The supporting cast features friends and family of Walaa and Yazeed, some of whom are also children living under the same difficult conditions. They are no different from other children their age, except for their circumstances. They too have dreams and aspirations that get temporarily suppressed during the sounds of sirens and bomb explosions but never completely extinguished.

Accompanied by powerful background music, incredible cinematography, and moving performances, Born In Gaza serves as a heart-rending reminder of the realities and struggles faced by children on the frontlines of war, while unabashedly portraying the hope and courage that exists within them against all odds.

Born In Gaza does more than provide a documentary-style recounting of the events in a conflict zone. Instead, it opens our eyes to the true cost of war and the impact it has on the most innocent and vulnerable members of society. These children are survivors, they are brave, and their stories serve as a humbling testament to the incredible resilience of the human spirit.