Synopsis:

Wafa Jamil lives in Stockholm, while her family resides in Gaza. She longs for the laughter, tears, and unbridled creativity that shape a meaningful life amidst the turmoil. Her film is an autobiographical, intimate, and family-focused story that ponders the dilemma of constantly yearning for a place where one can no longer live.

During the ongoing war, Wafa feels terrified that something might happen to her family. Whenever they have internet access, they meet via video call to assure each other they are still alive.

In June 2018, after 18 years, Wafa received Israeli permission to visit her family due to the death of her sister. After nearly two decades, she was shocked by the harsh conditions of life in Gaza and proud of their attempts to create normal lives under inhumane conditions.

In May 2022, with COVID-19 receding, Wafa decided to visit her family again. She travelled via Egypt, as she was still blacklisted by the Israelis. This trip offered an adventure to discover "The Other Gaza.”

Director’s profile:

Wafá Jamil Espvall is a Palestinian Swedish born & raised in occupied Gaza. She has been in film production for over 15 years. She focuses on different themes in her films including human rights issues and politics of identity. Her latest documentary film, Coffee for All Nations, was well received by audiences and film critics, winning several international prizes & is being translated into 6 languages. She also produced the My Life is a Film project in cooperation with Stockholm municipality. She has worked as a film director/producer for many local and international media production companies, including Wattan TV, Qatar TV, Kuwait TV, NHK, and CH4 – UK. She is a member of Nordic Women In Film and is a board member of Filmcentrum Riks in Sweden and has participated in many film festivals including Nordisk Panorama Film Festival, IDFA International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, Aljazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival, MEDIMED DOC Market.

Co Producer:

Ulf Boström is a board member of the Company Driva Production. He’s an author, journalist and documentary filmmaker. He is also the founder of his own company A&O Production. He has produced and directed a number of documentary films, mainly for SVT, Swedish public service.

Our Power-a film about young unemployed. 27 min for SVT 1999. Meanwhile in Africa a film about widows and orphans in Tanzania. 57 min 2001, YLE( finnish public service) 2001. The house of Evangelina 35 min, SVT 2004. Second hand society, A film about a bookstore. 28 minutes. SVT 2006.Death does us part. A documentary about a graveyard.57 min. SVT 2008.