TIFF Documentary Highlights
TIFF Documentary Highlights
A Sisters' Tale, Dahomey, and No Other Land
This year’s Toronto International Film Festival had a stellar selection of documentaries, and my only regret is that I couldn’t see more of them! I did make an effort to watch a few fiction films as well, but they could not compete. It is hard to switch to fiction after seeing a handful of deeply personal and quiet moments in documentaries like The Freedom of Fierro and A Sisters’ Tale. Both films took years to make, but their patience paid off in these moving and intimate profiles.
No Other Land and Dahomey are two documentaries that have radically different approaches, but make powerful political statements. They are a testament to how creative and personal storytelling can bring pathos and new understanding to complex histories.
Below are my thoughts on A Sisters’ Tale, Dahomey, and No Other Land. In the following weeks I’ll be publishing more in-depth pieces on The Freedom of Fierro and From Ground Zero.
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A Sisters’ Tale
Directed by Leila Amini
92 minutes
This intimate documentary follows Nasreen Amini over seven years as she pursues her dream to become a singer in Iran, where it is illegal for women to sing in public. The director and cinematographer is Nasreen’s sister Leila Amini. Such full access allowed for several subtle and pivotal moments to be caught on camera. In a handful of scenes late at night, Nasreen confides to Leila about her marriage struggles and sense of failure. Later in the film, Nasreen’s son is worried about his sister in the hospital, and he breaks down crying. Leila is filming him and struggles to hold the camera and comfort him. The camera turns away, but some of the dialogue is still heard. These private family scenes are authentic and moving. Leila is never onscreen, but the bond between the two sisters can be felt.
On the surface the documentary appears to be a domestic drama, but much like Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House, the story of one woman’s home life has political implications. Nasreen at the beginning of the documentary is similar to the character Nora. At first Nasreen seems to have a normal and happy life as a housewife, but as viewers we come to see gradually how oppression has severely limited her. Differing views on how women should behave and be treated in private and public are the main source of conflict for Nasreen in her family. To pursue her dream of becoming a singer Nasreen must do so secretly and take great risks. A Sisters’ Tale is an impactful feminist story of one woman’s pursuit of her dreams and freedom.
Dahomey
Directed by Mati Diop
68 minutes
Spirits from the past speak in this powerful documentary about the return of 26 artifacts to Benin. Dahomey was an African kingdom that existed from approximately 1600 to 1904 (before the arrival of colonizers), within present-day Benin. The documentary follows the objects, which include statues of leaders, small carved figurines, and talismans that were used in spiritual ceremonies, as they travel from a Paris museum to their first public reception at a museum in Benin. Voice-over from the point of view of the artifacts is used sparingly, but the presence of these otherworldly beings is felt throughout. The ethereal score and sometimes moody cinematography create a ghostly feeling of being watched.
Dahomey finds just the right balance between the sacred and political. After the artifacts arrive in Benin, the documentary frequently cuts back to a public forum in which young people are debating what it means for the artifacts to be returned. Some argue it is a sign of progress, while others say it is insult to only receive only 26 out of thousands of sacred objects that were looted. When the citizens of Benin attend the welcoming museum reception for the objects, the cinematographer is able to capture several quiet moments of awe and reverence. This creative approach paired with thoughtful observational footage offer us a unique understanding into how the past still impacts the present. By personifying the artifacts, it makes clear that the strength, rituals, and history of Dahomey still have meaning to the people Benin, and demand to be reckoned with.
No Other Land
Directed by Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, and Rachel Szor
95 minutes
No Other Land is a gripping narrative of activism and friendship. The story follows two young men, Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham, from 2019 to 2023 as they try to document the evictions of the Yasafer Yatta villagers in the West Bank. Adra is a Palestinian activist whose family has a long history of activism in the area. His father is seen as a community leader. Yuval is a progressive Israeli journalist hoping his reporting will help bring attention to the forceful removals. This documentary could have simply focused on political messaging, but its self-reflection and the participation of the filmmakers make it a more complex and personal story.
A large part of the film is Adra’s and Abraham’s struggle to bring attention to the evictions through their work. Adra attends and organizes protests and then uploads several videos onto social media trying to gain support, but is having a difficult time building an audience. Abraham is continually disappointed when he publishes articles that are not read by many and don’t seem to be making an impact. There are quiet moments between Adra and Abraham when they question the purpose of their work and wonder if it makes any difference. I appreciated the honesty of these scenes because it highlights a common struggle of activists to get their message heard and how difficult it can be not to give into despair after losses.
Slowly we see Adra and Abraham change from colleagues to good friends, but the difference in status between the two is always there. Abraham is able to travel freely and Adra cannot. Adra has a law degree but works at his father’s gas station. As a Palestinian he feels he would only be considered for construction work outside of the West Bank. Abraham tries to assure his Palestinian friends that he is on their side, but sometimes they are skeptical. He is also portrayed as a traitor by hard-right Israelis because he openly advocates for Palestinian rights. But despite these differences the two friends continue to work together and support one another. Their lives highlight the inequality between Palestinians and Israelis, but their friendship is a powerful example of what peace and reconciliation could look like.