This morning there was
light,
tomorrow morning there
will be light,
but where is light?
––Etel Adnan

This winter solstice, the darkest day of the year, offers an opportunity to reflect upon and to mourn the many lives lost and people displaced so far. Now more than ever, we need light, clarity, and justice to put an end to the dehumanization of Palestinians. This evening is organized by a group of international art workers including Jewish and Palestinian voices.

The evening will delve into the history of Palestine through the lens of food, ecology and colonialism, screening Jumana Manna’s Foragers (2022, 64 min.). Combining fiction, documentary, and archival footage, the film offers a meditation on foraging for edible native plants and portrays the impact of Israeli nature protection laws on these customs, such as the collection of ’akkoub and za’atar (thyme). The screening will be accompanied by za’atar, mint tea, and poetry.

Schedule:
19.00: Doors open
19.30: Snacks, clips and poetry
20.00: Screening Foragers by Jumana Manna (64 mins).
21.00: discussion, Q&A

The language of the program will be English. We invite you to join us with an open mind and respectful attitude. In our commitment to fostering dialogue and inclusivity, we will provide non-official translation both from and to the Hungarian language during the discussion.

We reached maximum capacity and the event registration is now closed.

We thank Jumana Manna for providing the film for our screening.

More about Foragers (2022, 64 mins):

Foragers depicts the dramas around the practice of foraging for wild edible plants in Palestine/Israel with wry humor and a meditative pace. Shot in the Golan Heights, the Galilee and Jerusalem, it employs fiction, documentary and archival footage to portray the impact of Israeli nature protection laws on these customs. The restrictions prohibit the collection of the artichoke-like ’akkoub and za’atar (thyme), and have resulted in fines and trials for hundreds caught collecting these native plants. For Palestinians, these laws constitute an ecological veil for legislation that further alienates them from their land while Israeli state representatives insist on their scientific expertise and duty to protect. Following the plants from the wild to the kitchen, from the chases between the foragers and the nature patrol, to courtroom defenses, Foragers captures the joy and knowledge embodied in these traditions alongside their resilience to the prohibitive law. By reframing the terms and constraints of preservation, the film raises questions around the politics of extinction, namely who determines what is made extinct and what gets to live on.

Cover photo: Film still from Jumana Manna’s Foragers (2022). Courtesy of the artist.