Hakawati, the Last storytellers

At a glance

Hakawati, the Last storytellers, is a 2019 Qatari movie, directed by Karim Dridi and Julien Gaertner, and starring Radi Shehadeh, Mounira Shehadeh, Feras Shehadeh. with a runtime of 52 minutes.

Overview

Hakawati: The Last Storytellers is a documentary following Radi and Mounira, a 65-year-old Palestinian puppeteer couple, as they embark on an exhausting tour across Israel and Palestine in their aging van, against the wishes of their adult children. Night after night they erect their stage, perform three consecutive shows for hundreds of energetic children under a blazing sun, then dismantle everything and drive on. Lost in Jericho, rattled by nearby bombings, and unsettled by Bedouin children in the Negev who struggle to define their own identity, the couple begins to question whether their mission still holds meaning. A poignant and deeply human meditation on Palestinian identity, the cost of cultural preservation, and the enduring power of storytelling.

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