Aljazeera article on IDFA
Beautiful review of our film on Aljazeera by Sherif Fathy Salem translated in English by Joseph Koleh.
Fourth impression: fun comedy reality --------------------------- "Waiting for the giraffes" is one of the most enjoyable documentary films I saw in my life. Directed by the Italian filmmaker Marco De Stefanis and presented in the Dutch Film Competition it revolves around the veterinarian Dr. Sami who is making a great effort to develop Qalqilya zoo. It is the only zoo in Palestine and dr. Sami is trying to become member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) in order to acquire new giraffes after the ones they had died during Israeli incursions. The film describe the events and the characters in a very simple, human and honest way and the director succeed in maintaining the film compatible with those elements without indulging in impressive footage or resorting to evocative techniques but maintaining its focus on the story without falling into the side reviews and details which causes problems in the Palestinian {fragile} complex reality. This was one of the most important factors for the film's success; and due to the director and his ability to capture the elements of the funny {comic}realities, and confirmed through the editing. This is one of skills of the Mediterranean people especially the Italians. Those were the most distinguishing things in his film; and this was probably what prompted the audience to fill the halls in all five screenings, the Dutch audience often burst into laughter especially during the second half of the film So it looks as if they were watching a pure comedy, and thus the film was so good and did not lose its narrative or human elements.
During the Q&A, the audience asked the director about the situation of Dr. Sami and his zoo, and on the duration of filming and the difficulties he faced, he replied that it was filmed on six stages spread over five years to pursue the development and efforts of Dr. Sami & the zoo. And also the biggest dilemma that was faced is losing his camera equipment or what was said, at Tel Aviv airport and was forced to rent equipment from Palestine to continue the filming trip, and then found his equipment waiting for him at the same airport before returning to Amsterdam, where he dwells.
