Dubai: The Price of Kings, a powerful documentary on the life of Yasser Arafat and his style of leadership had its Middle Eastern premiere at the Dubai International Film Festival on Thursday night to a full house.
In attendance were the Palestinian Ambassador to the UAE Dr Khairi Al Aridi and Consul-General Kasim Radwan, as well Arafat's widow Suha Arafat, who for the first time, gave a candid interview on her husband, the revolutionary leader.
Suha spoke to Gulf News exclusively about her thoughts on the movie following the premiere. "At a time when the Arab world is witnessing various revolutions, we remember him [Arafat] even more because he was a leader who was never kicked out by his people; he was loved by his people," she said. "Most dictators in the Arab world today are being forced to leave their countries because their people don't want them," she added. It's at this point in history that Suha told their only daughter Zahwa that she should be proud of her late father.
Better understanding
Suha is also very happy with this documentary, which is showing in the Arabian Nights category, because she says "British director, Richard Symons [who is owner of the production company behind the project called Spirit Level Films], is Jewish and we have to know that there is no difference between being Muslim, Jewish or Christian." She said, "Richard was very objective on Yasser Arafat".
Symons, who was also in attendance on Thursday answered some questions from the audience on why he chose Yasser Arafat. He said Arafat was an ‘epic' leader and it was the right way to start his series on 12 of the world's most renowned presidents and prime ministers.
When asked how the making of this movie affected him, Symons said he now has a much better understanding of the distorted image that the media gives when it comes to Palestine and Arafat.
Symons has already completed the second and third documentaries which are on Israel's president Shimon Peres and Costa Rica's ex-president Oscar Arias Sanchez. The focus for his first three movies is leadership and conflict, and the quest for peace.
The Price of Kings covers seven decades of Palestinian history and follows the story of Arafat from the time when he was very young. Through a series of interviews with Arafat's closest allies, family, and rivals even, we get a sense of the hardships Arafat endured in reaching some of the most pivotal decisions in his political career, like recognising the state of Israel.
Insights
Peres and the late president of Malta, Guido de Marco, give valuable insights into the man they knew very well.
The film's producer Joanna Natasegara told Gulf News the aim of making this movie was to get the people closest to Arafat who witnessed the events with him to talk. One particular part in this documentary that has an impact is the story told by Dr Nasser Al Kidwa, Arafat's nephew, of how Arafat reacted to former Israeli president Yitzhak Rabin's assassination. Arafat was moved and upset, according to Al Kidwa. It is this kind of personal information that sort of fills the gaps in figuring out who Arafat was.
Although the majority of those interviewed from the Palestinian side speak very highly of the Palestinian leader, there are glimpses of critical views on the man who was constantly judged and misjudged throughout his career.
Look out for an in-depth interview with Suha Arafat in December 16 edition of Weekend Review.
