Directors Nitin Sawhney and Roger Hill have produced a feature-length documentary film that centers on the lives of Palestinian children in Gaza. And their kites. The film follows a group of children as they endeavor to break the Guinness World Record for most kites ever flown at one time. As the documentary goes on, it’s clear that the kites mean much more than just breaking a record or passing time — to these children, there are symbols of hope. The creation of the kites also represent teamwork, creativity and unity at a time when things seem shaded by recent political events and economic hardships.
Flying paper has been co-produced with young Palestinians also living in Gaza who learned film-making skills through a youth media program called Voices Beyond Walls. Woven throughout the documentary are the stories of these driven Palestinian children and teens, who despite some of the challenges they face, continue dream big. The documentary showcases an innate, intrinsic drive within them to excel, to learn and to create. The scene that pans from the center of the beach in Gaza to the waves of pastel colored kites is truly touching, illustrating the strength in the creative endeavors and the resilience of Palestinian youth, whom despite it all, still just want to fly kites.
For more information: Visit the film’s official site, and watch the trailer.