Nation Estate
Nation Estate is a 9-minute sci-fi short film offering a clinically dystopian, yet humorous approach to the deadlock in the Middle East.
With a mixture of computer generated imagery, live actors and arabesque electronica, Nation Estate explores a vertical solution to Palestinian statehood. In Sansour’s film, Palestinians have their state in the form of a single skyscraper: the Nation Estate. One colossal high-rise houses the entire Palestinian population – now finally living the high life. Each city has its own floor: Jerusalem on the 13th floor, Ramallah on the 14th floor, Sansour’s native Bethlehem on the 21st and so on. Intercity trips previously marred by checkpoints are now made by elevator. Aiming for a sense of belonging, the lobby of each floor reenacts iconic squares and landmarks.
The story follows the female lead, played by Sansour herself, in a futuristic folklore suit returning home from a trip abroad and making her way through the lobby of the monstrous building – sponsored and sanctioned by the international community. Having passed the security checks, she takes the elevator to the Bethlehem floor and crosses Manger Square and Church of the Nativity on her way to her apartment where she prepares a plate of sci-fi tabouleh. (Larissa Sansour)
Directed by: Larissa Sansour; Author: Soren Lind; Camera: Jesper Toffner; Editing: William Dybeck Sorensen; Sound Editing: Roar Skau Olsen; Composer: Aida Nadeem; Digital Effects: Henrik Bach Christensen, Daniel Martinez; Costume Designer: Line Frank; Production: William Dybeck Sorensen; Executive Producer: Morten Revsgaard Frederiksen; Cast: Larissa Sansour, Leila Sansour, Maxim Sansour.
Organisation: City of Women; In collaboration with: Škuc Gallery.
Free entrance.
