The Mute's House is a 2015 Israeli documentary film directed by Tamar Kay about the Rajabi's, a single mother and her son, both Palestinians living in the Jewish quarter of the West Bank city of Hebron. The film was produced by Ariel Richter and Tamar Kay as their thesis film at The Jerusalem Sam Spiegel Film & Television School. The film was well received by critics and audiences. In October 2016, the film was listed as one of the 10 shortlisted films to compete for the 89th Academy Award's Best Documentary Short Subject.
Story A building in Hebron, which has been deserted by its Palestinian owners, is called “The Mute's House" by the Israeli soldiers stationed there and by the tour guides who pass by. The building's only occupants are a deaf woman, Sahar, and her eight-year-old son, Yousef. The family's story, which unfolds against the backdrop of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is told through the eyes of the young and charismatic Yousef, as he goes through his daily routine in both the Jewish and Muslim areas of a city torn apart by hatred and violence.
Release & Reception The film premiered in November 2015 at IDFA, and has participated in over 20 international film festivals since. It premiered on Israel's Channel 8 on January 21, 2017. The film has received mostly positive reactions and reviews. As the film deals with the politically volatile subject of the West Bank, there has been some criticism by both right and left wing audiences regarding the representation of the city and its residents.
Awards and nominations Awards & NominationsFestival/CeremonyYearAwardResultKraków Film Festival2016Best Short FilmWonIDFA - International Documentary Festival Amsterdam2015Special Jury Award for Student DocumentaryWonSt. Louis International Film Festival2016Best Documentary ShortWonFull Frame Documentary Film Festival2016Best Student FilmWonDocaviv- Tel Aviv International Documentary Film Festival2016Best Student FilmWonJerusalem Film Festival2016Best Documentary ShortWonThe Israeli Documentary Filmmakers Forum Awards2016Best Student FilmWonEarly Bird International Student Film Festival2016Best DocumentaryWonMontefeltro Film School Festival2016Best FilmWonInternational Federation of Film Societies2016Best Short FilmSpecial MentionFlickerfest International Short Film Festival2017Best Documentary ShortSpecial MentionStudent Academy Awards2016Best Foreign DocumentaryFinalistThe Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival2016Best Documentary FilmFinalistThe Ophir Awards2016Best Documentary Short SubjectNominated
References
External links The Mute's House Official Website
The Mute's House Trailer on YouTube