The feature documentary follows three generations of a Palestinian Bedouin family as they navigate displacement, racism, and the loss of their traditional nomadic lifestyle in Jordan.
Key facts
- •The documentary 'Concrete Land' was directed and shot by Asmahan Bkerat and written and edited by Ban Maraqa.
- •The film follows a Palestinian Bedouin family that is also part of the Afro-Bedouin community.
- •The documentary was filmed over an eight-year period as the family faced the threat of displacement from urban construction.
- •The film is scheduled to screen at the BFI London Film Festival starting on October 8.
- •The Arabic title of the film, 'Tiyaha,' translates to 'the person who is lost,' reflecting the family's state of having no place to belong.
Directed by Palestinian-Jordanian filmmaker Asmahan Bkerat, the documentary 'Concrete Land' captures the experiences of a Palestinian Bedouin family living on the outskirts of Amman. The film, which Bkerat also shot, documents the family’s struggle against encroaching urban development and the loss of their ancestral way of life. After a world premiere at the 79th Locarno Film Festival, the documentary is set to screen in the Documentary Competition at the BFI London Film Festival beginning October 8.
Origins and Production
The project began after Bkerat and producer-editor Ban Maraqa met the family by chance while exploring areas outside of Amman. Initially, the filmmakers produced a 2017 short film titled 'Badyra' about the family’s sheep. Over the next eight years, the project evolved into a feature-length documentary as the filmmakers observed the family facing potential eviction due to rapid construction and urban expansion in the region.
Themes of Displacement and Identity
The film explores the complex status of Palestinian Bedouins in Jordan, who, unlike their Jordanian counterparts, do not receive land from the government because they are refugees. Bkerat notes that the family members are also Afro-Bedouins, representing a minority within a minority. The title 'Concrete Land' serves as a juxtaposition between the living, breathing nature of the land and the rigid, cold concrete of the urban development that threatens their nomadic existence.
Future Screenings and Projects
Following its London run, the filmmakers are working to arrange a screening in Jordan for the family featured in the film, as they do not have access to a proper screen. Bkerat is currently producing two additional films focused on Palestinian family archives and water scarcity in Jordan, and is developing a new feature film centered on the theme of displacement.
Timeline
- 2017The filmmakers produced a short film titled 'Badyra' about the family's sheep.
- Eight years laterThe project was completed as the feature-length documentary 'Concrete Land'.
- October 8The film is scheduled to begin screenings at the BFI London Film Festival.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Hollywood Reporter.
