(No) Laughing Matter

NEW DOCS

Vanessa Rousselot travels to the West Bank to conduct an on-the-street survey of Palestinian humor, which can’t help but reflect years of regional conflict. In the film, jokes told by Palestinians in Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, and Hebron (Gaza can be reached only by Skype) share a universal, laugh-out-loud sense of humor. But they also offer a revealing commentary on current events through layers of subtle and not so subtle protest, weary irony, and insights into traditional culture. Who knew that Hebron is often the butt of Palestinian jokes, or that someone has collected thousands of jokes from the first Intifada? A classroom of girls breaks out into giggles when the filmmaker visits to record their jokes. In contrast, the film also shows the woes at a congested military checkpoint as well as an example of thoughtless racism in Haifa.  NK

Director

Vanessa Rousselot

Producers

éO Productions, Edward Gubbins, Virginie Meunier

Editors

Juliette Haubois, Nadia Ben Rachid

Cinematographer

Philippe Bellaiche

Original Title

Blagues à part

Release Year

2010

Festival Year

2011

Country

France

Run Time

54 minutes

Premiere

US Premiere