West Bank Story

Director Ari Sandel tries to challenge the stereotypical image of the conflict in the Middle East

In this edition of the Fabulous Picture Show, we screen in its entirety West Bank Story, last year’s Oscar-winning live-action short.

This exclusive screening is accompanied by commentary from Ari Sandel, the film’s director, and an oft-heated discussion of the film amongst a group of young Palestinians and Israelis. 

Full of dancing, singing and wacky humour, West Bank Story, set on the West Bank, is a spoof of the classic musical West Side Story. 

It tells of the forbidden love between David, an Israeli soldier, and Fatima, a Palestinian fast-food cashier. 

Growing animosity between their families’ rival fast-food establishments – Kosher King and Humus Hut – triggers a chain of events that forces the two warring sides to seek common ground.

West Bank Story is full of dancing, singing and wacky humour

Ari Sandel set out to make West Bank Story during his graduate studies at the University of Southern California Film School.

Tackling a serious issue with immense humour but a limited budget, the young director tries to challenge the stereotypical image of the conflict in the Middle East – one which, to him, seems to present no hope.

Sandel wants to show how similar both sides are by reducing the dispute to a battle between two falafel joints.

Watch this episode of the Fabulous Picture Show on YouTube

This episode of The Fabulous Picture Show will broadcast at the following times GMT:

Saturday 9th February 14:30, 22:30; Sunday 10th February  02:30, 12:30; Monday 11th February 00:30, 07:30; Tuesday 12th February 06:00, 13:30; Wednesday 13th February 11:30, 19:30; Thursday 14th February 05:30; Friday 15th February 03:00, 16:30; Saturday 16th February 06:30.