Synopsis:

"A Disturbed Earth" follows Rihab's journey to reconstruct her lost Palestinian village, Safsaf, through the stories of survivors in Lebanon. She teams up with Leila, a graphic novelist in Detroit, who is the granddaughter of the last couple to marry in Safsaf. Together, they use drawings, photographs, and animation to piece together a visual map of the village, blending fantasy and reality. The film culminates in a symbolic ceremony honouring the massacre victims, where Rihab and Leila join elders on a rooftop in Ain El Helweh refugee camp for sunset prayers and a ceremony from their place of exile. Their voices, carried through speakers encircling the mass grave, console the disturbed earth of the burial site. This film unearths a buried story, waiting beneath the rubble of a lost village.

Director’s profile:

Director Rihab Charida is a Palestinian filmmaker based in Beirut, with a background in producing documentaries for television news and current affairs programs.