Hasan Everywhere
‘They were young, talented and free in New York. Dorit Rabinyan was an Israeli novelist and Hasan Hourani was a Palestinian artist. Their passionate friendship, impossible at home, flourished abroad. Then, in 2003 while visiting his family, Hourani drowned in Jaffa.’
The narrative style is inspired by Dorit’s 2003 article ‘The Exile’s Return’ ; the animation in part adapted from Hasan’s illustrated children’s book ‘Hasan Everywhere’. In contrasting the lonely voice of the writer with the warm, imaginative landscapes of the artist, the friends find portals of escape from a bitter New York winter to a Levantine dream-world.
The story follows the friendship from their first meeting on 8th St. through to DoritÂ’s departure for Israel. A period of time that spanned six months is summarized thematically, highlights both their longing for home and the dissipation of the perceived differences between them. The film is intercut with a second timeline, featuring Hasan making it through the West Bank Barrier from Palestine to the beach at Jaffa, Israel. Initially, these scenes feel like a memory evoked, but ultimately depict HasanÂ’s final journey of August 6th 2003.
Interwoven between these two timelines are several transitional shots which are pure fantasy, shared dreams of Dorit and Hasan, inspired by his drawings. These episodes segue in and out of the real events taking place in New York and Jaffa. In these scenes, no barrier exists between Dorit and Hasan. There is no divided homeland, only the shared love of the Mediterranean and the sights, tastes and sounds of home. Ultimately, these vignettes and HasanÂ’s death combine stylistically. In death all divisions cease to exist, and Hasan is immortalized as the dreaming alter-ego he depicts in his drawings.