STORYLINE: Over fragile video calls, Palestinian photojournalist Fatma Hassona shares her life in Gaza with Iranian director Sepideh Farsi. They speak about religion, politics, and surviving under the ongoing violence of Israeli bombardments. A friendship grows between the women, each call a precious sign of life. Since October 7, 2023, at least 211 media workers have been killed in Gaza. Shortly before the premiere of this film, Fatma Hassona and her family are also killed in an Israeli airstrike. What remains is a testament to her resilience, her radiance, and her indispensable work in making Gaza’s reality visible. (IMDb)

   When making a dramatization of events in a typical biopic, the film industry can be a little behind the curve. With the creative process, and time, it takes to make a motion picture that is understandable. The documentary genre tends to present its subjects closer to real time, as the movies take material from events as they happen. Mr Nobody Against Putin (2025), Inside Job (2010), and When the Levees Broke (2006) all told relevant stories with little or no lag time to the events they were covering. Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, is a new documentary feature, follows that trend, covering the Gaza war from the inside. 

    Films about armed conflicts, documentaries in particular, have a habit of political observational bias.  That’s natural.  Those making the movies have a view point, and are expressing it.  

  In Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk the politics of the Gaza war is featured in the movie, but in a 

 limited capacity.  Instead the viewers get to know Fatma Hassona, and what life is like in Gaza, as a result of the war.

   The film is more then a personal insight into life in the war zone. Audiences watch the friendship develop between  Fatma Hassona and the films director. It is here that Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk distinguishes itself from other war films, and becomes more of a personal feature. 

    The footage in the documentary is presented entirely through face time interactions, on cell phones.  It is, at times, reminiscent of watching a found footage horror film.  At times, the movies, shaky and blurry, and I found myself a little woozy watching the movie.  Still, it did not deter from the positive experience of watching this motion picture. 

    Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk  is a first person look into the war in Gaza.  Furthermore, it is a first person look at the friendship between two people. It’s a relevant documentary about current world affairs in 2026.

   Until next time, I will see you at the movies!