Palestinian cinema has won a landmark achievement as Tarzan and Arab Nasser’s comedy-drama Once Upon A Time In Gaza claims the prestigious Best Director award at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section, where it world premiered to resounding applause. The twin Palestinian directors Tarzan and Arab Nasser expressed their gratitude for the recognition.
Following its world premiere, the film garnered widespread acclaim from critics worldwide, with Clotilde Chinnici of Loud and Clear Reviews describing it as “Necessary and remarkable, Once Upon A Time In Gaza is a beautifully shot and politically significant film, especially relevant today.” Meanwhile, Jonathan Romney of Screen Daily praised its impact, stating, “This taut, succinct film should win widespread attention following its bow in Un Certain Regard.”
Also, Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter described Once Upon a Time in Gaza as “Small-scale yet broad in its implications, especially considering what’s happened since October 7th,” highlighting how the film “touchingly portrays characters doing their best in a place that grants them few options and even fewer opportunities.”
This victory marks yet another milestone for the Nasser brothers at Cannes. Their short film Codom Lead was selected for the Main Competition, while their debut feature Degrade premiered at Cannes’ Critics’ Week. Once Upon A Time In Gaza is their second feature, following Gaza Mon Amour, which world premiered in the Venice International Film Festival’s Horizons Program and was Palestine’s submission to the 2021 Academy Awards.
Once Upon A Time In Gaza explores the gripping story of Yahya, a young student who forges a friendship with Osama, a charismatic restaurant owner with a big heart. Together, they begin peddling drugs while delivering falafel sandwiches, but they are soon forced to grapple with a corrupt cop and his oversized ego.
An international co-production between France, Palestine, Germany, and Portugal with Qatar and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the film boasts a stellar cast that includes Nader Abd Alhay, who is known for his role as Sami in Farah, which is streaming now on Netflix. Directed by the Nasser Brothers from a screenplay co-written with Amer Nasser and Marie Legrand, Once Upon A Time In Gaza is produced by Rani Massalha and Marie Legrand from Les Films du Tambour and Muriel Merlin of Lyly Productions.