In 2020, just as the pandemic was beginning, Gazala purchased land in western Ohio, on which sits a disused school building. This site allowed her to explore her complex relationship with “the land.” As the daughter of displaced indigenous Palestinians, she attempts to form a proxy bond with the earth, on ground that was stolen from the displaced indigenous Shawnee people. Closeness to the Land is video footage of hand-painted text signs that translate the word الأرض (ard) into six English words, displayed performatively in multiple locations to capture the now-invisible nature of indigenous culture in Ohio. These signs were installed on the old schoolhouse in early 2021.
Genre: Documentary
Stars:
Crew: Ehab Sami (Music Score Producer), Mona Gazala (Director), Mona Gazala (Writer)
Country: United States of America
Language:
Studio:
Runtime: 7 minutes
Quality: HD
Released: May 21, 2022
IMDb: 10
