Tårnet

Eleven year-old Wardi is a Palestinian fourth generation refugee and lives in a camp in Lebanon. With each generation, their house there has grown into a looming tower, and Wardi's great-grandfather Sisi has lived there ever since he had to flee his real home back in 1948. Although he is dying, he clings on to the dream of returning, and still carries the key to his old house around his neck like an amulet. As Wardi begins to search the family history for the truth about Wardi's lost hope, she hears for the first time about al-Nakba, the disaster of '48 when Palestinians were forced into exile.

The Tower is based on real stories gathered from interviews, conversations, and observations made by director Mats Grorud during his own stay in a Beirut refugee camp. The film combines puppets and 2D animation to give life to the moving and captivating tale about coming-of-age in exile. PEG

PANEL DISCUSSION: After the screening on 9 November there will be a panel discussion about the plight of Palestinian refugees and their prospects for the future, 70 years after the exile from Palestine. Director Mats Grorud will introduce the film and participate in the discussion, which will be held in Norwegian.

Mats Grorud is a Norwegian director and animator. He studied at the Community College in Volda, in addition to studies in Denmark, Beirut and Beijing. Grorud previously directed the short films JuleNilssen and Min bestemor Beijing, and runs his own animation firm. The Tower premiered at the prestigious Annecy animation film festival this summer.