My guess regarding all the props used in the film, is that is was created to break expectations of genres and stereotypes of Palestinians. We see a beautiful Arab woman unable to rent a flat in Jerusalem because others can tell over the phone that she is arab and not Israeli. We then see her with two men strapping wires around her, telling her where the remote is, and where to insert the powder. This turned out to be a fireworks display they were showing her. The viewer will also see things such as guns and grenades, which turn out to be lighters, Israeli police hastingly exiting a van with their rifles and lining up against a wall so they can all pee together next to each other. Our main character, the director, is somehow unable or chooses not to speak in this film. After coming back from NYU, Suileman is supposed to return to Palestine to present a film about peace, and is unable to speak, or is never given the chance to even when on a podium. Long takes, long moments of silence, and constant humored dialog and dashed expectations are what makes this mysterious film. Theres a mix of languages, including Arabic, English, French, Russian, and Hebrew. So many things about it, a college course could be taught on it. This is not the film you want to see if you are looking for propaganda, rather it falls more into the art film realm.
Review of Chronicle of a Disappearance
