It’s not always easy being a Palestinian, and that’s certainly true for gay Palestinians, who have to survive within a culture that is often very hostile to them (indeed, there have been reports of Israeli security forcing trying to turn gay Palestinians into spies by threatening to out them if they don’t work for them – something that could cost them their lives). However, it’s certainly not all misery and angst for them.
The documentary Oriented looks into this, ‘following the lives of three gay Palestinian friends in Tel Aviv confronting their national and sexual identity.’
The film has screened as Sheffield Doc/Fest and the Los Angeles Film Festival, receiving great acclaim. It’s the debut film from British filmmaker Jake Witzenfeld.
It’s a movie that attempts to show a different side to being gay and Arab, taking us into the lives of three men whose lives may be very different from what you expect.
As one of the documentary’s subjects, Abu Seif, told Variety. “I think a lot of people who saw the movie changed their minds about what it is to be a gay Arab and a gay Palestinian. To anyone who wants to listen, I am ready to explain. Get out from your bubble, and let the funky Arabs open your mind.”
Take a look at the trailer below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0PKz3Qz9uw
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