«Gaza's Apollo» puts us in awe

Cinema Wednesdays - Lauriane Pipoz

In 2013, a statue of Apollo was found off the coast of Gaza. Everyone had their own theory about the mysterious object: some dated it to Greek times, others saw it as a counterfeit. Rumors are rife and the affair stirs up the media. But some time later, she disappeared. In this city ravaged by violence, what happened to the Apollo of Gaza?

For the third time, Genevan filmmaker Nicolas Wadimoff is shooting a documentary in Gaza. Here, he seeks to understand the story of this statue pulled out of the sea by fishermen in 2013. But this is not the only issue at stake in this «archaeological thriller»We want to know where the Apollo from Gaza came from and what happened to him. Yes, we want to know where Gaza's Apollo came from and what happened to him. But we're also swept along by the filmmaker's fascination with this region: we're just as eager to be carried away by the testimonies of the Gazans who tell us about their city and its system.

A mysterious statue

Everything about this Apollo is a mystery. The viewer quickly realizes that the testimonies of fishermen, archaeologists and antiquities dealers are contradictory - even if many claim to be «100% sure» of what they are saying. Is the object in question from Greek times? Some claim that its dimensions don't match. Was it really found in the sea? Impossible - it would be much more corroded, says one specialist.

The information gathered in this documentary is spectacular. It's easy to imagine that so much information had to be obtained by means of fraud: pretending to be a forger, or pretending to want to build a museum. The testimonies are very well organized: some specialists speak several times and are also filmed in their activity as archaeologists or restorers. Occasionally, we also find ourselves immersed in the sea, lulled by the waves, listening to a touching poem. The music is simple and unobtrusive, but effective: it helps to set the mood in Gaza.

The importance of history

The story of this statue is also a pretext for talking about other subjects. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, of course, but also the importance of history in nations. For «a nation without history is not a nation». An archaeologist tells us about the ancient radiance of majestic Gaza; today, it's all under the sand. «The history we are living through is neither sad nor happy, but exciting. Cultures unfold, then disappear. What is forged in adversity will be strong,» we say in front of the camera. The adversity of Gaza and its statue is beautifully described here.

Photo credits: © Sister Distribution

Write to the author: lauriane.pipoz@leregardlibre.com