‘Between the Barricades’: Unveiling childhood dreams amid conflict

‘Between the Barricades’, a short film released in 2022, is the creative vision of UK-Palestinian filmmaker Jude Lucienne Elziq.

In just under 10 minutes, we get to see the life of a determined young Palestinian girl who dreams of becoming a famous soccer player. However, her dreams are held back because she's stuck at home due to the ongoing conflict in her area.

Lucienne Elziq, the film's director, shared her deep connection to the project in a 2023 interview with NYU Abu Dhabi University, explaining, “The film is near and dear to my heart. It's a very heavy subject.”

Elziq's storytelling conveys a fundamental truth—there are certain aspects of a child's spirit that even the harshest conflict cannot extinguish, including their hopes and dreams. Through ‘Between the Barricades’, the young filmmaker's intention is to highlight this resilience.

‘Between the Barricades’ has already left its mark on the international stage, having been screened at 14 film festivals in nine countries.

Elziq aspires to use her work to ignite ongoing discussions about the importance of safeguarding children's rights, and she remains committed to telling stories that raise awareness of critical human rights issues.

Growing up in nine different countries and spending many summers in Palestine, Elziq witnessed firsthand the struggles faced by children living in unstable places. Her film ‘Between the Barricades’ gives viewers an up-close and moving look at what she saw during her early years, revealing the ongoing hardships that children face every day.

‘Between the Barricades’ is not just a short film; it is a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring hope that lives within the hearts of children even in the face of adversity.

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