Mourning in Lod (2023) | Dir. Hilla Medalia
Randa Aweis, an Arab woman who received a kidney from a Jewish man killed in a violent protest in Lod, and Sharihan, her daughter. Courtesy of MTV Documentary Films.
Written by: Belle McIntyre
This gut-wrenchingly terrible and beautiful examination of man’s staggering inhumanity to man balanced with his equal ability to find forgiveness, compassion and understanding in a world where the deck is stacked against the latter, could not be more timely. The documentary takes place in Lod, one of the few peaceful Arab-Jewish communities in Israel, as it begins to splinter, fracture and spiral out of control, having been whipped into sectarian outbreaks of violence by the political factions vying for control. An atmosphere of tension, suspicion, fear and hate has permeated the population - turning neighbors and friends against one another. Told through stories of three unrelated people and their families who were forced by tragic circumstance to face the perceived enemy with eyes wide open and a new vision, with a possibility of hope.
Marwa and Milla, the widow and daughter of Musa Hassuna, a Palestinian man killed in a violent protest in Lod. Courtesy of MTV Documentary Films.
The film begins with Marwah, the widow of Musa Hassouna, who was shot by a Jewish settler during a peaceful demonstration which turned deadly. He was on his way home on the final day of Ramadan. His death and the lack of police intervention to protect the Arabs and prosecute the killer caused massive demonstrations in the name of Musa, calling him a martyr. Marwah speaks directly into the camera, her beautiful face filling the frame, as she describes trying to explain to her young daughter, who is too young to believe these things. Musa’s father has a hard time accepting the loss and vows to keep his memory alive.
Protest every 10th of the month for justice for Musa Hassuna, a Palestinian man killed in a violent protest in Lod. Courtesy of MTV Documentary Films.
Shortly after the murder of Musa, during a street protest which got rowdy, someone threw a huge rock through the car window of Yigal Yehosua, who was driving home to his wife and son. He made it home and died in the hospital a few hours later, but not before his wife decided to donate his organs. Yigal’s brother takes charge of the heartbroken family.
Marwa and Milla, the widow and daughter of Musa Hassuna, a Palestinian man killed in a violent protest in Lod. Courtesy of MTV Documentary Films.
Randa, an older single mother with two grown daughters, has been suffering with kidney failure and waiting for a kidney donation for ten years. A Christian, she has just about given up hope, becoming despondent, and looking forward to dying. Sharihan, her lively and loving daughter will not hear of it and has been constant in her efforts to keep her alive. You may have figured out by now that Randa gets Yigal’s liver and this is where the good part begins. Randa and her daughters are so grateful that they are compelled to thank Yigal’s family. They bravely show up at his memorial, greeted by suspicious looks and disrespect. Yigal’s brother is the wise patriarch and when he welcomes them to join them, something begins to shift. The fathers of Musa and Yigal, who had been friends before, begin to have consoling conversations and find reasons for hope. Neighbors become friends again.
If it all looks impossible today, this will at least give those of us who are not in the thick of it, a new and more open way of seeing things through the lens of those who are living and dying.
