3000 Nights
Spring Grant 2015 - Post-Production Stage
Mai Masri / Feature Narrative / Palestine, France, Jordan, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Qatar / 2015 / 103 min / Colour / Original Language: Arabic, English, Hebrew / Interests: Women, Drama, Social Issues, Psychological, Based on a True Story
Synopsis
Falsely accused of being involved in terrorist activity, Layal is arrested, interrogated and incarcerated in an Israeli jail. As she becomes accustomed to being surrounded by hardened Israeli criminals and Palestinian political prisoners, all to the tune of the torment visited by cruel guards and a nearly sadistic warden, Layal discovers she is pregnant.
Life in prison acts as a metaphor for living under occupation, where Palestinians are treated harshly and are subject to rules that do not apply to Israelis. This separation is everywhere, but is quietly underlined in the film with costume: while the Israeli women are allowed to wear what they wish, Palestinian inmates are uniformly dressed in regulation blue overalls.
Chained to a bed, Layal gives birth to a son, whom she names Nour and raises as lovingly as she can, with the love and support of her Palestinian cohorts. When they get wind of the Sabra and Shatila massacre, the traumatised women stage a strike to demand their fundamental rights. While their revolt is eventually met with a harsh crackdown, nevertheless with resistance comes the hope for future freedom – marked here by the gently colourful clothing of now two-year-old Nour, a stark contrast with the otherwise dark and drab outfits worn throughout the institution.
Credits
- Director
- Mai Masri
- Screenwriter
- Mai Masri
- Producer
- Mai Masri, Sabine Sidawi, Charlotte Uzu
- Production Company
- Orjouane Productions
About the Director
Palestinian filmmaker Mai Masri studied Film at San Francisco State University and has directed several award-winning films that have been screened worldwide and received more than 60 international awards. Her filmography includes ‘Children of Fire’ (1990), ‘A Woman of Her Time’ (1995), ‘Children of Shatila’ (1998), ‘Frontiers of Dreams and Fears’ (2001), ‘Beirut Diaries’ (2006) and ‘33 Days’ (2007). '3000 Nights', Masri’s first feature-length narrative film, won the WIFTS Award and the Audience Award at the Valladolid Film Festival.
Awards and Festival History
Festivals
Toronto International Film Festival 2015, Contemporary World Cinema (WP)
Busan International Film Festival 2015, A Window On Asian Cinema
BFI London Film Festival 2015, First Feature Competition
Dubai International Film Festival 2015, Muhr Feature Film
Jordan's Official Submission for the 2017 Academy Awards - Best Foreign Language Film Race
Bronze Tanit and Jury Prize for Best Scenario, Carthage Film Festival 2016
Audience Award, Annonay International Film Festival 2016
Jury Award, Women’s Interna
Contacts
-
Director
Mai Masri
- Email:
- mai.masri@hotmail.com
-
Main Contact
Sabine Sidawi Hamdan
- Company:
- Orjouane Productions
- Phone:
- +961 349 9080
- Email:
- orjouaneproductions@gmail.com
-
Main Contact
Sabine Sidawi
- Company:
- Orjouane Productions
- Phone:
- +961 349 9080
- Email:
- orjouaneproductions@gmail.com