Screened at the Barbican as part of the Palestine Film Festival 2007 on 3rd May, Save and Burn brought to the British audiences the plight of libraries in crisis, from the USA to Palestine and Iraq.
Directed by Julian Samuel, a Pakistani now living in Canada, Save and Burn is a highly provocative and political film, exploring the commercialisation of libraries. Above all, the film looks at the destruction of Palestinian libraries by Israeli soldiers and the fate of Iraqi libraries during the “liberation.”
Julian Samuel’s “Save and Burn” appeared as part of this year’s Palestine Film Festival which ran from 27th April to 10th May. A diverse programme of films, the screenings took place at the Barbican Cinema and SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies in Russell Square).
The Palestine Film Festival was set up in 1999 by the Palestine Society at London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). In 2004, the society formed the Palestine Film Foundation, which is solely concerned with programming and organising the festival. The festival has gained strength forging links internationally and throughout the UK.
Do pay the festival a visit which finishes on 10th May. Failing that, you could donate funds to the Foundation to ensure the continuation of their remarkable work. For further information on the foundation, go to: http://www.palestinefilm.org
To see more of Julian Samuel’s work go to: http://www.juliansamuel.net
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