« Since my thirteen years I have been in music with Fayrouz » – Liberation

THE Palestinian filmmaker is the guest of the Panoramas of the Cinemas of the Maghreb and the Middle East from April 1 to 14 in Seine-Saint-Denis, we will see From Ground Zero, collective work bringing together 22 short films turned to Gaza after October 7, 2023 that he initiated and supervised, as well as his latest film Dream, On the screens on April 2.

What is the first disc you bought adolescent?

An album of Marcel Khalifé, a Lebanese composer and singerin cassette. He notably composed the music of many songs from Mahmoud Darwish.

Your favorite way to listen to music?

All means are good.

The last disc you bought and in what format?

It was not for me, it was to offer an Iranian friend, an album of Umm Kulthumof which some of the composers she worked with were Iranian.

Where do you prefer to listen to music?

By car, for hours, I can listen to music, especially when I make long trips and with friends, you can listen and sing throughout the road.

A favorite disc to start the day?

Fayrouz, the Lebanese singerupon waking every morning, any of his songs, except since the start of this war in Gaza.

The song you are ashamed to listen to with pleasure?

None. It would be a shame to listen without enjoying it.

The record that everyone loves and that you hate?

The music that Europeans consider as an Arabic, while they are pictures, popular songs for weddings and other festivals.

The disc to survive on a desert island?

Najat Al Shaghira, to treat daily sorrows. I wrote to her a letter where I started by complimenting it because if school and family teach us essential things, she taught us much more essential things like love, life, emotions. She was better than school and our parents. Then I blamed it because, when I left Gaza for the first time and for a long period, I had brought tons of cassettes, including all those I had of it. But at the controls, the Israeli soldiers found it bizarre and gone everything in a fine and finally brought me directly to the plane where everyone was waiting for me.

Your best concert memory?

In dreams. Since my 13 years I have been in music with Fayrouz. The neighbors, my parents could no longer. I ended up believing that she knew me too. One day, I dreamed that I was going to one of his concerts in Paris. There were a lot of people and I thought she would recognize me, I thought we would jump into the arms. But none of this. No matter how much attention I looked for, nothing. So I left the concert to find my Fayrouz, that of my cassettes, the one who knew me.

Are you going to dancing, flirting, listening to music or you are never going to club?

Never. I have an too intimate relationship to music, she looks at you in the eyes to see your heart.

Your favorite film music?

Those of Charlie Chaplin and in particular that of Modern time.

What is the record you share with the person who accompanies you in life?

Fayrouz, the Lebanese singer, with morning coffee (Wahdon).

The last disc you listened to in a loop?

Joubran triothe three Palestinian brothers. I even filmed them in Ramalah playing this song Masar.

The song or the piece of music that always makes you cry?

Not always but she is sad for me, it’s a song by Fayrouz, My fi hada.

What are your three favorite songs?

Charles Aznavour, Bohemia (1965). Fayrouz, Konna Netlaka (1974). Najat Al Shaghira, Owsfoli al Hob (1977).