Iranian Documentary About Gaza Steals the Show

Date: 11 February 2025 - 22:08

News ID: ۱۳۶۸۰۱

TEHRAN -- The 43rd Fajr
International Film Festival (FIFF) brought a compelling documentary to the screen, shedding light on the Palestinian struggle in Gaza.
‘Angels Never Die’, produced by Morteza Shabani and directed by Muhammad-Reza Abolhassani, is a deeply humanistic portrayal of the Palestinian people living under siege.
This documentary was featured in the Special Screenings section of the festival, with the voice-over by acclaimed Iranian actress Merila Zarei.
Zarei, a prominent figure in Iranian cinema, also starred in ‘Prophet Moses’, which emerged as one of the festival’s most celebrated films, winning multiple Crystal Simorgh awards in various categories.
‘Angels Never Die’ presents Gaza not just as a war zone but also as a place where survival has become a daily challenge rather than a natural right.
The film emphasizes how Palestinian civilians have learned to navigate these hardships with remarkable strength.
Director Abolhassani explains that the documentary approaches the Gaza war from a social and humanitarian perspective, offering an unfiltered view of Palestinian life beyond political narratives.
The film explores global reactions to the crisis and the emotional and social toll of war.
The production of ‘Angels Never Die’ faced numerous challenges due to the ongoing conflicts and limited direct access to Gaza.
To overcome the obstacles, the making crew collaborated with a Palestinian art group and the Farabi Film Foundation.
The complexity of filming required a Lebanese executive director to coordinate with on-ground teams in Gaza, making it one of the most logistically demanding projects of the festival.
With its raw depiction of Palestinian resilience, ‘Angels Never Die’ stood out as one of the most thought-provoking films at this year’s Fajr Film Festival, urging audiences to see beyond headlines and witness the real human cost of war.