This screening is organized by PoP (Praten over Palestina) and RKZbios. PoP is looking for ways to stimulate dialogue around Palestine in the hope of a more livable future for those involved. The film will be introduced by Stefan van der Poel, a university lecturer in Contemporary History at the University of Groningen, with a keen interest in modern Jewish history. He is the author of the book Joodse Stadjers, about Jewish residents of Groningen from 1796 to 1945. After the screening there will be room for discussion.
The Palestinian cuisine is inherently connected to the plants za’atar (wild oregano, related to marjoram) and akkoub (a thistle-like plant with a flavor reminiscent of artichoke). They grow on rocky terrain and have traditionally been gathered by Palestinian residents of, for example, the Golan Heights. However, Israel has banned wild foraging, officially under the umbrella to protect nature. The Palestinian residents view the ban as yet another oppressive tactic. Given that related regions are a border areas, the vast nature becomes a pawn in military and political power plays.
Navigating through forests, kitchens, courtrooms, and archives, Foragers depicts a brutal ecosystem that seems to be designed to complicate the lives of the local population. The documentary presents a bitterly comic and fiery perspective on the roots of power and its victims: ordinary people who want to express and experience their cultural traditions.