'The sun doesn't shine in the camp' is a 35 minute documentary on life in Balata Refugee Camp, Occupied Palestine. Filmed by international activists and Palestinians between December 2003 and March 2004, the film represents the suffering and struggle of the Palestinian people.
Composed of interviews with Balata residents and footage from the 2003-2004 New Year's invasion, the film offers a unique view of Balata Refugee Camp.
During this invasion, 5 people were killed, 2 homes were demolished and dozens were injured. The 30,000 residents were held under 24-hour home imprisonment for the four-week period without access to food, medical services or supplies. Yet the residents of the camp continued to resist by breaking curfew, throwing stones, walking past tanks to attend school. Raw street footage shows the conditions people were forced to live under and their acts of resistance.
The soundtrack includes haunting but beautiful songs sung by children in Balata Camp. Some of these are available on this website.
Interviews include:
* The Abu Lel family speaking about their home being demolished by the IOF * Dalal Salami, local MP * Wafa Abu-Arab, teacher and coordinator of the local Disability Committee * Hala, a 14 year-old school student * Asem, an 18 year-old school student * Hamoudi, a 7 year-old school student and stone-thrower
Copies of the film are available on DVD in NTSC (American-Japan) and PAL (European) formats. The film was made by activists on small budgets, and all donations will be used to towards the film collective.