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Noe Mendelle: Al Khadra, Poet of the Desert

Al Khadra is a renowned Saharawi war poetess, living in the Al Auin, a wind swept refugee camp in South Algeria. Now in her late 70’s, this oral verse of this illiterate, nomad is vivid testament to three decades of the Sahara conflict. We witness how this extraordinary matriarch survives the hardship and desolation of life in the camp, but see how keeps her oral poetry alive and attempts to pass on her activism to the next generation.

Trailer:http://www.scottishdocinstitute.com/films/poets-of-protest-poet-of-the-desert/

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Noe Mendelle: Al Khadra, Poet of the DesertOutline Description

This short film demonstrates the expansion of creative documentary language interweaving images, poetry and music.

The ethnographic content allows me to expose the personal journey of my main character as well as the political cause of the Sahrawi people. Through Khadra we are able to explore not just the physical conditions of living in a refugee camp and her political journey but more importantly the emotional journey lived by herself and her people.

The making of this film led to develop and produce a 6 part series on Poets of Protest post Arab Spring for Aljazeera TV.

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Noe Mendelle: Al Khadra, Poet of the DesertOriginality

This is the first documentary made about this poet Khadra due to my unique access to the camps thanks to my involvement with Sandblast Arts, NGO organisation who promotes art development as cultural peace building.

The film explores the history of the Saharawi people through poetry and storytelling. The images very still but using the beautiful landscape as a dichotomy to reflect their restricted movement being locked in a camp, dependent on International aid and their dreams of past life travelling the desert.

The film takes the audience inside a Bedouins family life And able to observe at first hand the frustration of the younger generations not being able to lead the life they see on television.I also had access to women and explore a different image of Muslim culture depicted by Western press.

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Noe Mendelle: Al Khadra, Poet of the DesertProcess

The film was researched and planned with the methodology expected of an ethnographic film.We did secondary research on the history and the political impasse between Morocco and the Saharawi people.I researched archive footage from news items about the conflict and living in war zones.I interviewed specialists in North African politics as well as journalists who have been following the region.I got in touch with NGOs who work with the refugee camps in order to assess the difficulties as well as safety for myself and my award winner Director of Photography, Luis Correia.We then had to proceed to obtain permits both for travelling there and for residence.I set up an artist in residence for myself and my DoP at the Film School in one of the refugee camp in order to ground myself in the community and use local talent to participate in the making of the film, softening the potential didactic approach, as someone coming from Europe. We lived with Khadra’s family during the shoot, offering us full access to our character as well as physical safety. The film trip could only be 2 weeks due to restriction of travel.On the return I edited the film with Award winner editor Susi Korda.The editing was a constant negociation between myself and Aljazeera TV in wanting to use a more cinematic language to express some of the emotions of the poetry and the character, while Aljazeera wanted a more information led type of documentary.

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Noe Mendelle: Al Khadra, Poet of the DesertRigour

• During research I interviewed political experts of that region in order to further my knowledge in Western Sahara history

• I read what I could about Saharawi people from various ethnographic sources

• I searched for archive materials from news item to get a sense of the tone of past reports

• I interviewed journalists working for Middle East and North Africa• I researched safety for filming in conflict zone.• I talked extensively with my DoP about equipment to use in the desert and

no electricity zone• I revised a bit of my Arabic in order to facilitate communication• I set up a residency for myself and DoP in Film School in order to be better

integrated in the community and offer support in exchange of local help.

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Noe Mendelle: Al Khadra, Poet of the DesertSignificance

The ultimate aim of this film was to explore the link between poetry and political activism. This film was able to do just that through the eyes of an older woman with

the added bonus that despite being illiterate she was highly creative with the use of her words and a beautiful

communicator and source of inspiration to her community.

Through the response to my blogs and screenings it seems that she is also able to communicate to a wider audience.

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Noe Mendelle: Al Khadra, Poet of the DesertReferences

http://www.camdennewjournal.com/sahara-sweeps-camdenhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gzGD5xv0rKU

Aljazeera English - Artscape3,451 viewers

http://www.topdocumentarystream.com/al-khadra-poet-of-the-desert/

http://www.reelfestivals.org/poets-of-protest-bread-and-roses-film-festival-2012/

The film is broadcast on Aljazeera across the world accessing remote counties and cultures. It is also travelling to international festivals.

http://www.africa-in-motion.org.uk/films-and-events/films-and-events/