Elia Suleiman facts for kids

Elia Suleiman (born 28 July 1960) is a famous Palestinian film director and actor. He is well known for his 2002 movie Divine Intervention. This film is a modern story that mixes sad and funny moments, showing daily life in Palestine. It won the Jury Prize at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. People often compare Suleiman's movie style to silent film stars like Jacques Tati and Buster Keaton. This is because he uses a lot of visual humor and quiet scenes. He is married to the Lebanese singer and actress Yasmine Hamdan.

Life and Career

Early Films

Elia Suleiman lived in New York City from 1982 to 1993. During this time, he worked on several films. He co-directed Introduction to the End of an Argument (1990). He also directed a film called Homage by Assassination. Both of these early works won many awards.

Introduction to the End of an Argument was an experimental video. It looked at how Arab people were shown in Western movies and TV. The film used clips from Hollywood movies and cartoons. It also showed real scenes from the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Homage by Assassination was like a personal diary film. It explored ideas about identity and how people communicate. The film showed the challenges of living away from one's homeland.

Teaching Work

In 1994, Suleiman moved to Jerusalem. He started teaching at Birzeit University in the West Bank. He helped create a new Film and Media Department there. The European Commission provided money to support this project. Later, in 2008, Elia Suleiman became a professor at the European Graduate School. He also gives guest lectures at other universities around the world.

Main Movies

In 1996, Suleiman directed Chronicle of a Disappearance. This was his first full-length movie. It won the Best First Film Prize at the 1996 Venice Film Festival.

His second major film was Divine Intervention in 2002. This movie won the Jury Prize at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. It also received the International Critics Prize and the Best Foreign Film Prize in Rome.

The Time That Remains is the third film in a series by Suleiman. It was shown at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. This movie won the Black Pearl prize for best Middle Eastern film. It also received the Critics' Prize at the Mar del Plata International Film Festival.

His film, It Must Be Heaven, was shown at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. It also premiered in North America at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.

Other Film Projects

In 1998, Suleiman made a film called The Arab Dream. In this movie, he explored his own identity. He once said that he lives in a "daily life, daily death" situation. Suleiman also made a short film in 1997 called War and Peace in Vesoul.

In 2000, Suleiman released a 15-minute short film called "Cyber Palestine." This film shows a modern-day Mary and Joseph. They try to travel from Gaza to Bethlehem. Suleiman was also a judge at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival.

Filming Style

Elia Suleiman is known for using a lot of silence in his movies. This applies to both the acting and his directing choices. He believes that actors should not always rely on big, dramatic expressions. He prefers movements and a musical feel in his scenes. Because of this, many of his films feature quiet performances with little dialogue. Some experts think this silence shows the challenges faced by Palestinians.

Suleiman's films often use funny, sometimes dark, humor. For example, in Divine Intervention, Santa Claus is stabbed by children. In Chronicles of a Disappearance, a salesperson sells "holy water" that turns out to be tap water. Suleiman says he uses humor to help people understand serious issues. He believes that laughter can open people's eyes and fight sadness.

His acting style is often compared to Buster Keaton. Keaton was famous for his silent performances and expressive eyes. However, Suleiman says Keaton was not a direct influence on his work. He made films before he even saw Keaton's movies.

Filmography

Feature Films

• Chronicle of a Disappearance (1996)
• Divine Intervention (2002)
• The Time That Remains (2009)
• It Must Be Heaven (2019)

Short Films

• "Homage by Assassination" (1993), The Gulf War... What Next?
• "The Arab Dream" (1998)
• "Cyber Palestine" (2000)
• "Awkward" (2007), To Each His Own Cinema
• "Diary of a Beginner" (2012), 7 Days in Havana

Documentary Films

• Introduction to the End of an Argument (1990) (Co-directed by Jayce Salloum)

Awards

• 2024: Honorary Heart of Sarajevo Award during the Sarajevo Film Festival.

See also

In Spanish: Elia Suleiman para niños

• Palestinian Christians