Documentary on Gaza Photojournalist Fatima Hassouna Premieres at Cannes
A Heartfelt Tribute to Courage in Gaza
From 2024 to 2025, Iranian director Sepideh Farsi conducted interviews with Fatima Hassouna, a Palestinian photojournalist, about her experiences in Gaza, a region that has faced severe bombardment following the Hamas assault on Israel in 2023. The documentary titled Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk was selected for the ACID sidebar at the Cannes Film Festival in April.
Farsi shared this exciting news with Hassouna on April 14, but tragically, the very next day, Hassouna and six family members lost their lives in an Israeli airstrike on their home in Gaza.
The film is a poignant exploration of extraordinary bravery amidst ongoing violence. At just 25 years old, Hassouna's spirit and moral fortitude resonate deeply, leaving a significant emotional impact.
Premiering at Cannes on May 13, the film's opening ceremony featured jury president Juliette Binoche reading excerpts from a poem by Hassouna, which is also included in the documentary.
Farsi began working on Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk while her animated film The Siren was making its rounds at various festivals in 2023 and 2024. Set against the backdrop of the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, The Siren is a visually stunning narrative about anti-war resistance, reflecting Farsi's own experiences of oppression after fleeing Iran's authoritarian regime in 1984.
Now residing in Paris, Farsi sought out Hassouna, who had been diligently documenting the Israeli attacks on Gaza. In the film's opening scenes, Farsi reveals her unsuccessful attempts to travel to Rafah in southern Gaza.
Instead, she conducted interviews with Hassouna via video calls, creating a sense of intimacy and urgency. Each connection is fraught with tension, often interrupted by bomb blasts, and the poor network frequently freezes Hassouna's bright smile and expressive eyes, symbolizing her struggles.
The documentary intersperses these calls with news footage and Hassouna's photographs, showcasing the devastation in Gaza—collapsed buildings, children clearing rubble, and families in distress. Despite the destruction, Hassouna returns to her home, which had been bombed previously, where she ultimately met her fate.
The ongoing famine in Gaza, exacerbated by Israel's blockade of aid, is a recurring theme. In response to Farsi's concerns, Hassouna reveals that many Gazans are surviving on minimal rations, expressing her longing for simple foods like chicken and chocolate.
Beyond its specific focus, the film serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of witnessing injustice, regardless of the consequences. Hassouna, with wisdom beyond her years, states, 'I must document what is happening since I am a part of the story: Gaza needs me.'
She feels unable to leave Gaza, her home, where her loved ones reside. 'I have no other land,' she asserts, echoing sentiments from the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land.
While the film primarily captures Hassouna through video calls, Farsi's gentle interactions reveal deeper aspects of her personality beyond the suffering. Farsi's empathy for the horrors in Gaza and her curiosity about Hassouna's perspectives on the October 2023 Hamas attack and the new Hamas leadership add depth to their relationship.
Hassouna's vibrant spirit shines through her curiosity about Farsi and her desire to explore the world beyond Gaza, which she has never experienced. However, her resilience begins to wane as the situation deteriorates following a ceasefire.
She confesses to feeling 'so tired,' 'empty and miserable,' highlighting the multiple threats to life in Gaza—whether from missile strikes or starvation. She even coins a term, 'dispression,' to describe her state of malnutrition-induced disconnection.
Farsi, who also edited the film, reflects Hassouna's determination by posing challenging questions about her precarious situation. Hassouna reassures Farsi, saying, 'You are here for me, you share my feelings, and that is enough.'
Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk embodies a sense of hope amidst despair. Farsi notes early in the film, 'Each of our conversations could be the last one.'
Hassouna's poignant farewell, 'See you in another place in this world,' accompanies images of Gaza's ongoing tragedy, a reminder of the resilience and suffering of its people.