Ghost Hunting

Raed Andoni, 2017, 94′

In Arabic with English subitles

For more than 25 years, one image has been haunting director Raed Andoni – that of a boy (18), head covered with a bag and handcuffed, sitting inside a prison yard. The same sounds always accompany this image: metal doors opening and footsteps slowly approaching. Through the lower part of the bag, the boy can see a man wearing white sneakers walking away. A survivor of the prison experience himself, Raed has fragmented memories that he can’t distinguish as real or imaginary.

In order to confront the ghost that haunts him, he decides to rebuild the Al-Moscobiya investigation center in an empty warehouse near Ramallah. A casting call for former prisoners results in an eclectic group of construction workers, a blacksmith, an architect and an artist. As they build a copy of their former jail based on their own memories, Raed digs deep into their memories, triggered by reenactments and roleplaying. For this purpose, he focuses on the story of Mohammad (50), whom the resistance to the investigation methods – stoked by laughter and rebellion – made him a hero among Palestinians.

Raed Andoni is a Palestinian director and producer, active since 1997 as the co-founder of two production companies: DAR FILMS in Palestine, and LES FILMS DE ZAYNA in Paris. His first documentary as a director, IMPROVISATION (2005), follows the Palestinian Joubran family as they create the musical OUD. For his first feature-length film, FIX ME (2009) Andoni filmed twenty of his psychotherapy sessions in Ramallah, Palestine. Featuring a Woody Allen-esque array of characters, including members of his own family, FIX ME explores the need for finding individuality in a place so dominated by politics and collective identity. His latest documentary GHOST HUNTING was awarded with Glashuette Original Documentary Award during the Award Ceremony of the 67th Berlinale film festival.

* In the presence of director Raed Andoni

Salle UD 6.102, Building U, Campus Solbosch, Avenue Paul Héger 20, 1000 Bruxelles

More infos: https://msh.ulb.ac.be/fr/agenda/screening-and-o-a-with-director-ghost-hunting