This November, an IC lecture explored an alternate reality: a Palestine free of its violent and traumatic past.
Every month, International Cinema (IC) holds free showings for a selection of international films. These films explore various themes and display a wide array of cultures.
During November 2024, faculty members from across the university presented lectures about four international films before their showings. Among them, associate professor of political science Quinn Mecham’s lecture on the film Lyd (2023) discussed the film's portrayal of Palestine’s history and some of the factors that have contributed to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.
“Alternate Histories: Palestinian Pasts and Presents” by Quinn Mecham
In 1948, the influx of persecuted European Jews triggered the massive displacement of Palestinians in what is now modern-day Israel. Nearly a century later, on October 7, 2023, Israel was attacked by terrorist organization Hamas, resulting in widespread destruction, death, and further displacement of Palestinians. In his IC lecture on November 20, 2024, associate professor of political science Quinn Mecham delved into how these two events have shaped the geography and cultures of the Southern Levant region. Mecham discusses this through the lens of the 2023 film Lyd, which tells the story of the once-Palestinian city of Lyd (also known as Lod). Directed by Palestinian journalist and filmmaker Rama Yunus and Jewish artist and filmmaker Sarah Friedland, the film offers a unique perspective on the city’s rich history and the challenges faced by its diverse inhabitants.
To start, Mecham gave some historical context, tracing Lyd’s journey from its beginning as a vibrant center of Palestinian culture to its current status as an Israeli city: “The narrator—the city itself—is encouraging us to see it as part of a very long arc of history,” Mecham said. “The film’s events take place over the course of about 100 years. But the narrator indicates the city is much more ancient than that. And I think that the narrator is inviting us to think about Lyd as kind of an eternal, long-standing Palestinian city.”
The film’s structure, divided into three acts, allows the audience to explore the city’s past, present, and imagined futures. Act one addresses the British Mandate and the catastrophic events of 1948 (known as the Nakba), where the region witnessed a massacre and the forced exodus of its Palestinian residents. Act two follows the experiences of these exiles in Nablus—a Palestinian city in the West Bank—highlighting the longing for a homeland they have never seen but have heard about from their parents and grandparents. Act three touches on the contemporary conflicts consuming the region, specifically the erasure of Palestinian history and tradition.
One of the most innovative aspects of the film, as Mecham highlighted, is its use of alternate realities. Through animated sequences, the film presents a vision of what Lyd could have become if it had not been subjected to the trauma of 1948. In this imagined timeline, the city flourishes as a center of Palestinian commerce, tourism, and intellectual life, with a diverse community of Muslims, Christians, and Jews coexisting harmoniously.
Throughout the lecture, Mecham encouraged the audience to engage with the film as the directors intended: seeing it as a deeply human story that invites viewers to reflect on their own identities and biases. “It is not designed to be an objective documentary. . . . This is a Palestinian story,” Mecham explained. “There are Israelis who speak in it and who tell stories in it, but the filmmakers don't have the pretense that somehow this is a story that is deeply objective. Rather, it’s a meaningful story about Palestine and Lyd as metaphor for Palestine.”
Below is a sampled selection of the films showcased throughout November.
The Orphanage (2007)
“Seeing is not believing. It’s the other way around: believe, and you will see.”
The Orphanage, a Spanish horror film, follows a woman named Laura, who, accompanied by her husband and son Simón, returns to the orphanage where she grew up, hoping to turn it into a home for sick and disabled children. Soon after moving into the building, something strange begins to happen: Simón makes new imaginary “friends.” On the day the home is opened, Simón goes missing, prompting Laura on a journey to discover the haunting truth about the orphanage’s past. A blend of drama and horror, The Orphanage weaves together themes of the power of motherhood, the lasting effect of abuse, and just how important the past is in shaping you.
Monster (2023)
“If only some people can have it, that’s not happiness. That’s just nonsense. Happiness is something anyone can have.”
Monster is a Japanese film that follows Minato, a young boy whose troubling behavior at school sparks concern from his single mother, Saori. She suspects that his teacher, Mr. Hori, abuses Minato at school, so she confronts the unsupportive school. The film explores themes of misunderstanding, identity, and childhood as it reveals Minato’s deepening bond with and complicated feelings toward Yori, a bullied classmate facing his own struggles at home. Ultimately, Minato and Yori find refuge in an abandoned railcar on their quest for acceptance and the courage to embrace their true selves amidst societal pressures.
Loving Vincent (2017)
“You want to know so much about his death, but what do you know about his life?”
Loving Vincent is a Polish-British film about the life and legacy of artist Vincent van Gogh. The film follows the perspective of Armand Roulin, the son of Joseph Roulin—a close friend of van Gogh’s and one that helped him through the last years of his life—as he travels to deliver the artist’s final letter following his death. After arriving in Auvers-sur-Oise, France, Armand begins to unravel the layers of van Gogh’s troubled psyche and artistic genius. A commentary on the complexity of the human experience, Loving Vincent reflects the struggle for recognition and the lasting impact of art.
Mustang (2015)
“The house became a wife factory that we never came out of.”
The Turkish film Mustang follows the journey of five orphaned girls as they face challenges associated with growing up in a rural, conservative village. One day, after playing a harmless game of “chicken” with their male classmates at the beach, which their grandmother and uncle misconstrue as inappropriate behavior, the sisters face punishment and receive orders to stay indoors. A story about the complexities of female repression, forced marriage, and the desire for freedom, this film highlights the strength that can come from strong sisterly bonds.
The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)
“You claim that I am sent by the devil. It’s not true. To make me suffer, the devil has sent you. . . and you. . . and you. . . and you.”
The Passion of Joan of Arc is a French silent film the recounts the trial and execution of France’s patron saint, Joan of Arc. Set in 1431, the film focuses on young Joan (only 19 at the time of her death) as she faces a politically charged trial, accused of heresy and witchcraft after leading French forces to victory during the Hundred Years’ War. Rich with moving dialogue and intense close-ups, The Passion of Joan of Arc highlights the themes of medieval Christian martyrdom, religious testament, and political conflict.
To read more about the other films featured at the IC this semester, click here.