Overview

The Landing rediscovers the modern-day ruins of Shaabiyat Al Ghurayfah in Al Madam, Sharjah, a public housing project built for the descendants of the Al Kutby tribe in 1981. Now deserted, the site witnessed the first movement of Bedouin families from tents into modern residences.

Sharif Sehnaoui, Abed Kobeissy and Ali Hout are stuck in the desert. Their moves, their communication, their discovery of location take the form of an acoustic exploration of space. A repertoire of simple gestures playfully engages with structure, space, threshold, verticality and perspective. Their acts resonate with artist Hassan Sharif’s early performances, which were staged in the UAE desert outside urban centres. Cables, sewage pipes, tubes, shovels, kitchen tools, electric air blowers and even a helicopter landing on site are deployed for their sonic potential, creating refractions, confrontations and transformations in a broken narrative.

First screened during Sharjah Biennial 14: Leaving the Echo Chamber (2019), this film has recently been shown at the Forum Expanded, 70th Berlinale (2020).

The film was commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation for Sharjah Biennial 14, with the generous support of the Barjeel Art Foundation, Elie Khoury Art Foundation, UAE Ministry of Interior and Fujifilm ME.

Screening Information

The Landing (2019)
Director and producer: Akram Zaatari
Lebanon, United Arab Emirates
Narrative │ 62 min
No dialogue with English and Arabic subtitles

The Landing was screened on 17 April 2020 as part of SAF Online: Film.