Feature Narrative
Total Budget
€ 600,000
Confirmed Financing
€ 46,000
Confirmed Financial Partners
-Royal Film Commission
-Robert Bosch Stiftung development
prize at Chabaka - Carthage Film Festival
Contact
maissalman@gmail.com
+962796555960
Cannabis farming is thriving in Palestine’s Area-C, a lawless no man’s land. Abbas, a lawabiding mechanic, is bent on avenging his older son’s death. But his task proves lethal when he uncovers his younger son’s plans.
Abbas is a law-abiding mechanic who lives in a West Bank village in Area-C. The Palestinian security forces aren’t allowed to enter Area-C without Israel’s permission, causing a boom in marijuana cultivation. Abbas’s brother-in-law, Ahmad, is the village’s ultimate drug lord. Abbas blames Ahmad for the death of his eldest son, who was shot at an Israeli checkpoint while delivering drugs. Grief-stricken, Abbas is unable to connect with his younger son, Hammoud, who secretly plans to escape. Driven by vengeance, Abbas contacts a Palestinian security officer, Hussen, to concoct a plan to arrest Ahmad red-handed in Area-A, where the Palestinian Authority has control. But Abbas’s plan backfires when Hammoud gets arrested instead. Hussen offers them a deal: he will release Hammoud if they snitch on Ahmad, so that Hussen can request Israel’s permission to enter the village and destroy Ahmad’s business. Abbas and Hammoud will have to put their differences aside and work together, only to discover that Hussen is willing to overlook Ahmad’s business for a bribe. When Abbas uncovers Hussen’s deception, his resentment turns into a raging fire. He plans to steal Hussen’s bribe following the exchange, by intercepting his vehicle. But the robbery goes completely awry. Hammoud, who has been snooping on Abbas, steals the money and goes on the run, while an enraged Hussen is on his trail. Abbas must now reevaluate his priorities to save his only remaining son from impending doom.
A few years back, the Palestinian security forces arrested my brother in Ramallah while smoking rolled tobacco. They wouldn’t believe that his cigarette didn’t contain marijuana. My father and I couldn’t reach the police station because Israel had blocked several roads in our neighborhood. Some needless beatings later, my brother was released. He left a month later to study in Europe and never returned. I left not long after. This painful moment gave birth to Weedestine, a story of being stuck between a rock and a hard place. To heighten the stakes, I set the story in the West Bank’s Area-C – an area where the Palestinian security forces need Israel’s permission to enter. It’s a “no man’s land,” surrounded by Israeli settlements. Villagers have limited opportunities there and no protection. Many have desperately resorted to marijuana cultivation. With the Palestinian security having no control, they arrest kids like my brother to give the false impression of law and order. What would happen to people when chaos is orchestrated? Weedestine is an elevated genre film that blends various forms of the neo-noir thriller with touches of dark humor that will amplify the absurdity of what it means to live in such a chaotic dark place. The story functions as a microcosm of Palestine: people stop playing by the rules when they realize the game is rigged. The choice is either between constant suffering or leaving – a rare privilege. In Weedestine, even grief is a luxury.
Said and I have been working together for the past two years on a few projects including, Lovesick in the West Bank, a short comedy, and Coyotes, a short thriller awaiting financing. I am a big fan of genre cinema, which is why I admire Said’s work. Telling complex and socially relevant stories through genre films is a great way to engage audiences. I immediately felt drawn to Weedestine after reading Said’s very rich and subtle script. Said’s films demonstrate his brave aesthetics as well as his clever choices in tackling complicated social and political issues. Though the setting is unfamiliar to viewers, the film’s theme, characters, and relationships represent an aspect of the human condition that is deeply relatable. Weedestine was written with what I believe is Said’s signature strength: commercial appeal, colorful characters, dark humor, and an intelligent theme. The screenplay is structured as a heist thriller, mixing serious tones with dark humor. Weedestine utilizes an approach that is both stylized and inspired by the reality of Area-C to make the social commentary it intends. The plan is to finance the film through co-production with European partners, while also raising as much money as possible regionally. We have recently received a production grant from the Royal Film Commission of Jordan. We are also looking for partnerships that could bring additional financing from their respective countries, as well as partners, and pre-sale opportunities.
2021: Lovesick in the West Bank by Said Zagha
2014: Hotel Zaatari by Mais Salman