Suche

The role of Arabs in the Spanish Civil War has only been associated with the Moroccan troops who were brought to Spain by Franco in order to fight against the Republicans. This image has been predominant throughout the last several decades, overshadowing the existence of the many other leftist Arabs who were among the international volunteers who defended democracy. The story of Najati Sidki, a Palestinian journalist who came to Spain as one such volunteer, reveals this little-known historical fact. The war proved to be a decisive turning point for Sidki’s family as well, particularly for his eldest daughter Dulia, who as a child ended up in Russia and had to grow up separated from her family. And there were other big events to come affecting Sidki’s family life:, World War II, the Nakba follwing the foundation of Israel and the Lebanese Civil War.

Guest:
Amal Ramsis born in Cairo, Egypt, studied cinema in “Séptima Aras” in Madrid. In 2008 she founded Cairo International Women’s Film Festival and the “Between Women Filmmakers” Caravan, the first annual and itinerant women’s film festival in Arab World. Since 2007 she is leading the international women’s workshop series known as “Correspondence between Women”. In 2018 she started to organize the Creative Documentary Workshops in Egypt. Her films “Only Dreams” (2005), “Forbidden” (2011) “The Trace of the Butterfly” (2015), and “You Come From Far Away” have got several international awards and been screened in many festivals.