Moving Forward and being reminded that "The power of enforced forgetting is extraordinary."

 This month I was part of an online screening organised by Ashkal Alwan, an cotemprorary art centre based in Beirut, Lebanon.They programme was delayed for two months due to war in Palestine which some days looked like it can spread to Lebonan.Not only that region but also whole world is affected by what is happening in Gaza, no matter how much effort is put to pretend all is normal.

These days,the voice of John Le Carre in the film Pigeon Tunnel (Errol Morris) has been echoing in my head. He talks about his experience of being in Berlin, right after world war two and just about the time the wall between east and west was being built. He said he was amazed by how the old Nazis were going about their lives in west germany and no one really minded.A new enemy was created .He says: "The power of enforced forgetting was extraordinary."

Most of the times,specially since last october,I do feel we are all subjected to some form enforced forgetting. I have expeirenced it from my Iranian side, for decades. Now I can feel it more than ever, here, on the other side of planet.

This month, I am also very excited to screen the films of Tara Najd Ahmadi, one my faviorate filmmakers, in Bristol as part of BEEF presents part 3. I decided not to show her films in Arnolfini gallery  which was our initial venue as their reaction and treatment of Palestinian film festival events, seemed extremely hassitant and disaapointing. What came after that, was a campaigns that now after 3 months, has reached the point of diaouge and mediation with the gallery.It was an eye opening period but it meant finding a new venue for our film screenings. Now, after all that, I am so pleased to share her work in Watershed.The screening is called The Commonplace Unravelled:The films of Tara Najd Ahmadi. What seems very relevant  about her work, at this specific time, is her concern about histories that get forgotten under the layers of day to day.It feels like a timely screening

I am more focused on the Walnut tree project these days.The wheels are turning at last.






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