Jump to content

The Mute's House

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Mute's House is a 2015 Israeli documentary film directed by Tamar Kay about the Rajabi's, a single mother and her son, both Palestinians living in the Jewish quarter of the West Bank city of Hebron. The film was produced by Ariel Richter and Tamar Kay as their thesis film at The Jerusalem Sam Spiegel Film & Television School. The film was well received by critics and audiences. In October 2016, the film was listed as one of the 10 shortlisted films to compete for the 89th Academy Award's Best Documentary Short Subject.

Story

[edit]

A building in Hebron, which has been deserted by its Palestinian owners, is called “The Mute's House" by the Israeli soldiers stationed there and by the tour guides who pass by. The building's only occupants are a deaf woman, Sahar, and her eight-year-old son, Yousef. The family's unique story, which unfolds against the backdrop of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is told through the eyes of the young and charismatic Yousef, as he goes through his daily routine in both the Jewish and Muslim areas of a city torn apart by hatred and violence.

Release & Reception

[edit]

The film premiered in November 2015 at IDFA, and has participated in over 20 international film festivals since. It premiered on Israel's Channel 8 on January 21, 2017. The film has received mostly positive reactions and reviews. As the film deals with the politically volatile subject of the West Bank, there has been some criticism by both right and left wing audiences regarding the representation of the city and its residents.

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Awards & Nominations
Festival/Ceremony Year Award Result
Kraków Film Festival 2016 Best Short Film Won
IDFA - International Documentary Festival Amsterdam 2015 Special Jury Award for Student Documentary Won
St. Louis International Film Festival 2016 Best Documentary Short Won
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival 2016 Best Student Film Won
Docaviv- Tel Aviv International Documentary Film Festival 2016 Best Student Film Won
Jerusalem Film Festival 2016 Best Documentary Short Won
The Israeli Documentary Filmmakers Forum Awards 2016 Best Student Film Won
Early Bird International Student Film Festival 2016 Best Documentary Won
Montefeltro Film School Festival 2016 Best Film Won
International Federation of Film Societies 2016 Best Short Film Special Mention
Flickerfest International Short Film Festival 2017 Best Documentary Short Special Mention
Student Academy Awards 2016 Best Foreign Documentary Finalist
The Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival 2016 Best Documentary Film Finalist
The Ophir Awards 2016 Best Documentary Short Subject Nominated

References

[edit]
[edit]