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PFF resources | Index of films screened by the PFF
LAILA'S BIRTHDAY

Directed by | Rashid Masharawi

Genre fiction  |  Length: 71mins  |  Year of production: 2008


Abu Laila (played by Mohamed Bakri) used to be a judge. Now the government doesn’t have the means to pay him he is compelled to work as a taxi driver. On the day his daughter Laila turns ten years old his wife insists he be home early to bring her a present and a cake. Abu Laila has nothing else on his mind other than completing this vital mission. But daily life in Palestine has other plans for him….

Gaza born Mashrawi (Waiting, 2005 Tension, 1998 Haifa, 1996) has been at the forefront of Palestinian cinema for over a decade, working across genres and with the finest acting and production talent in the region. Laila’s Birthday is his most accomplished and engaging work yet, featuring a virtuoso turn from Bakri, a very clever script, and some moments of inspired natural comedy. But while always entertaining, in its original style, Laila’s Birthday manages to expose and confront many of the most serious issues facing Palestinians today. Laila’s Birthday had its UK premier at the 2008 London Film Festival.

This screening will be followed by a Q&A session with both director Rashid Masharawi and lead actor Mohammed Bakri.
PalestineConnect is a small grassroots charity that operates community-led centres in the Gaza Strip. These computer-aided learning centres provide disadvantaged Palestinian children and young adults with a safe and relaxed environment in which to undertake a range of IT-related courses – that compliment the UNRWA schooling system and are vocationally relevant. All centres have disabled access and facilities and offer services to children irrespective of (dis)ability and gender.
PalestineConnect is a small grassroots charity that operates community-led centres in the Gaza Strip. These computer-aided learning centres provide disadvantaged Palestinian children and young adults with a safe and relaxed environment in which to undertake a range of IT-related courses – that compliment the UNRWA schooling system and are vocationally relevant. All centres have disabled access and facilities and offer services to children irrespective of (dis)ability and gender.
PalestineConnect is a small grassroots charity that operates community-led centres in the Gaza Strip. These computer-aided learning centres provide disadvantaged Palestinian children and young adults with a safe and relaxed environment in which to undertake a range of IT-related courses – that compliment the UNRWA schooling system and are vocationally relevant. All centres have disabled access and facilities and offer services to children irrespective of (dis)ability and gender.