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Voices from El Sayed
| Length: | 52 min |
| Released: | 2009 |
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Voices from El Sayed is a festival film that provides a multicultural contribution to the debate between those who want to preserve the deaf culture and those who want to give children an opportunity to integrate into the hearing world.
Because of a congenital predisposition, the Bedouin village of El-Sayed in the middle of Israel's Negev desert has the largest proportion of deaf people in the world. The people of El-Sayed do not consider deafness a handicap. Through generations they have developed a unique sign language, making it the most popular communication method among both the deaf and hearing.
The tranquility of the village is interrupted by Salim, father of three-year-old Muhammad, who decides to arrange for his son to receive a cochlear implant, offered by the Israeli health system. The film follows the impact of this advanced medical process on a traditional culture and gives an intimate portrait of a child’s process of learning to hear.
Because of a congenital predisposition, the Bedouin village of El-Sayed in the middle of Israel's Negev desert has the largest proportion of deaf people in the world. The people of El-Sayed do not consider deafness a handicap. Through generations they have developed a unique sign language, making it the most popular communication method among both the deaf and hearing.
The tranquility of the village is interrupted by Salim, father of three-year-old Muhammad, who decides to arrange for his son to receive a cochlear implant, offered by the Israeli health system. The film follows the impact of this advanced medical process on a traditional culture and gives an intimate portrait of a child’s process of learning to hear.
"Voices from El-Sayed is a film that suggests a great deal—about sound and deafness, about listening and watching movies, about hearing, watching, and interpreting images of Israel—and though it is often silent, it speaks loudly in many other ways."
‒Leo Goldsmith, Rooftop Films
‒Leo Goldsmith, Rooftop Films
Full Frame Film Festival, 2009
Silverdocs, 2009
Margaret Mead Film and Video Festival, 2009
The Other Israel Film Festival, 2009
Middle East Studies Association, 2009
One World Human Rights Film Festival, Prague, 2009
Israeli Film Festivals: Chicago,L.A., 2009
Jerusalem Film Festival 2008
Silverdocs, 2009
Margaret Mead Film and Video Festival, 2009
The Other Israel Film Festival, 2009
Middle East Studies Association, 2009
One World Human Rights Film Festival, Prague, 2009
Israeli Film Festivals: Chicago,L.A., 2009
Jerusalem Film Festival 2008
