Young Freud in Gaza 2008
Distributed by Icarus Films, 32 Court St., 21st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201; 800-876-1710
Produced by PeÅ Holmquist & Suzanne Khardalian
Directed by PeÅ Holmquist & Suzanne Khardalian
DVD, color, 58 min.
Jr. High - Adult
Mental Health, Gaza, Palestine, Psychology, Current Middle East Affairs, Middle Eastern Studies, Religion, Social Development, Culture
Date Entered: 01/25/2010
Reviewed by Malcolm L. Rigsby, Department of Sociology, Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, AR“Mind Opening!”In a land of occupation for over 40 years the people of Gaza cope with the daily strife of matter and mind. It is through this film that the film makers allow the viewer to enter the heart and soul of psychotherapist Ayed as he makes his daily rounds and meets with his patients at the Palestinian Authorities Clinic for Mental Health. We follow as he assists others to cope with their feelings about failure, loss of the life of lovers, children, parents, friends and siblings. Inwardly we sense his own desperate need for a personal psychotherapist. He notes “Gaza is a place that needs a million psychologists.”
We view this transpiration of life and time and in so doing have the opportunity to see the reality of being observed continually. Under the watchful eye of the Israeli reconnaissance dirigible over Gaza we can understand the feeling that accompanies being a specimen in a Petri dish. Questions that evade answer for Ayed include the future of Gaza under the government of Hamas. Will this lead to an opening of borders or create new horrors for the people to cope with? This is an insightful and unique view of life in Gaza as shot in the midst of the events of 2006 through 2008. Embedded in this dilemma of how to bring mental health to a destitute and segregated people are powerful forces of religion, politics, and the need for social justice that play out not only as struggle against the people of Gaza and Israel, but also between Hamas and Fatah factions.