Capital

Capital was part of IDFA program in 2023, and withdrawn by the filmmaker. Upon the request of the filmmaker, we publish the following text as received:

"This film was one of 12 to withdraw from participation at IDFA 2023, amongst 28 total withdrawals that included moderators, jury, and others in protest at the festival's damaging denunciation of an action in solidarity with Palestine that took place on the opening night of the festival. At the time, the festival erased all information relating to the films withdrawn in protest from the website. In response to the publication of the Palestine Film Institute's 'Industry Protocol in Times of Genocide' in August 2024, and as a gesture towards transparency, IDFA reinstated the information relating to the withdrawn films in September 2024. No further accountability has been taken.”  - The Palestine Film Institute on behalf of the filmmakers, for the full statement click here

Film Synopsis

Palestinian artist and filmmaker Basma al-Sharif makes experimental films and installations about cyclical political events and conflicts. Her latest film Capital sees her taking a slightly different direction.

This combination of fiction and futuristic design draws exuberantly on the Telefoni Bianchi (“white telephone”) films of the 1930s and 40s. The Italian genre took its name from what was a status symbol at the time. These glamorous and escapist films promoting conservative values were often set in prosperous (and sometimes non-existent) foreign countries—far away from the poverty-ridden Italy of that period. The genre later came to be seen as a precursor to fascist propaganda films.

The allusions in this offbeat satirical short are not limited to fascism, however. The filmmaker also makes particular reference to the frenzied development of the luxury residential complexes shaping wealthy enclaves in poor countries such as Egypt. Alsharif considers it unsafe to deliver her criticism directly, and chooses instead to communicate through a ventriloquist, songs and fictional advertisements.