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Yalla Parkour

Play trailer 1:57 Poster for Yalla Parkour 2024 1h 27m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 11 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
Filmmaker Areeb Zuaiter revisits Gaza, a place she first encountered at age four with her Palestinian mother. After her mother's passing, Areeb's nostalgia for her homeland resurfaces when she sees a video of Gaza's young men practicing parkour amid explosions. Reconnecting with Ahmed, one of the athletes in the video, Areeb embarks on a journey through Gaza's devastated landscape, exploring both parkour sites and symbols of Palestinian spirit. As Areeb experiences Gaza through Ahmed's eyes, she confronts the harsh reality of the open-air prison Gaza has become, contrasting it with her own life in the US and her mother's legacy. Areeb grapples with feelings of guilt and conflict as she witnesses Ahmed's desire to escape the imprisonment of his homeland, understanding the emotional void such a departure would entail. Their journey becomes not only a quest to reclaim memories but also an exploration of identity, belonging, and a home left behind. Yalla Parkour offers a last glimpse of a pre-October 7th Gaza.

Critics Reviews

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Lovia Gyarkye The Hollywood Reporter Feb 25
Yalla Parkour is a fascinating film, especially for its insight into Gaza’s parkour community, but at times it struggles to balance its sentimental subjectivity with the stakes of the empirical reality. Go to Full Review Alissa Simon Variety 12/10/2024
It is an approach that may connect with some viewers, although for this reviewer, it undermines the more dynamic and compelling struggles of the young Gazan. Go to Full Review Tim Grierson Screen International 12/07/2024
Despite the potentially incendiary political subject matter, this is an exceedingly gentle film with an almost diaristic quality. Go to Full Review Ricardo Gallegos La Estatuilla Apr 29
Yalla Parkour works when it focuses on the right people and their acts of resilience. [Full Review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Joseph Fahim Middle East Eye Mar 11
Zuaiter fails to convey the full essence of Ahmad. Zuaiter’s hagiographic, one-dimensional presentation of her protagonist leaves off his loves, his weaknesses, his relationships, and even his political convictions. Go to Full Review Amber Wilkinson Eye for Film Feb 25
3.5/5
A thoughtful consideration of not just physical prowess but the emotional agility and resilience demonstrated by those growing up in Gaza. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
Yalla Parkour

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Cast & Crew

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Areeb Zuaiter

Director

Areeb Zuaiter

Writer

Phil Jandaly

Writer

Johan Simonsson

Writer

Areeb Zuaiter

Screenwriter

Phil Jandaly

Screenwriter
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Yalla Parkour

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Yalla Parkour

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Movie Info

Synopsis Filmmaker Areeb Zuaiter revisits Gaza, a place she first encountered at age four with her Palestinian mother. After her mother's passing, Areeb's nostalgia for her homeland resurfaces when she sees a video of Gaza's young men practicing parkour amid explosions. Reconnecting with Ahmed, one of the athletes in the video, Areeb embarks on a journey through Gaza's devastated landscape, exploring both parkour sites and symbols of Palestinian spirit. As Areeb experiences Gaza through Ahmed's eyes, she confronts the harsh reality of the open-air prison Gaza has become, contrasting it with her own life in the US and her mother's legacy. Areeb grapples with feelings of guilt and conflict as she witnesses Ahmed's desire to escape the imprisonment of his homeland, understanding the emotional void such a departure would entail. Their journey becomes not only a quest to reclaim memories but also an exploration of identity, belonging, and a home left behind. Yalla Parkour offers a last glimpse of a pre-October 7th Gaza.
Director
Areeb Zuaiter
Producer
Basel Mawlawi
Screenwriter
Areeb Zuaiter, Phil Jandaly, Johan Simonsson, Areeb Zuaiter, Phil Jandaly
Production Co
Kinana Films
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
Arabic
Runtime
1h 27m