On 30 August, Göran Hugo Olsson’s new documentary, titled Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989 [+lire aussi :
critique
interview : Göran Hugo Olsson
fiche film], will have its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival (28 August-7 September). The picture, playing out of competition, boasts over three hours of archive footage spanning 30 years of history, courtesy of Swedish pubcaster SVT.

The network’s reporters were constantly present in the war-torn region, documenting everything from everyday life to international crises. This extensive treasure trove of footage makes up the material for The Black Power Mixtape 1967–1975 [+lire aussi :
bande-annonce
fiche film] and Concerning Violence [+lire aussi :
bande-annonce
fiche film] director’s new effort, where images of the rise of the Israeli state are interwoven with the Palestinian struggle for independence. News coverage with Yasser Arafat and interviews with Israeli foreign minister Abba Eban during a visit to Sweden are part of the exclusive archive material that has not been shown since its first broadcast. Combined, they tell the story of a changed media landscape and give us tools to understand a conflict that has affected our times like few others.

Commenting on the poster release, graphic designer and art director Stefania Malmsten said: “Göran Hugo Olsson and I have been working together for a long time. Graphics, along with music and contemporary voices, are important in his work with archival footage. The posters always correspond with the graphics in the films, and over the years, we have developed a visual language where sharp type meets grainy, variable, sometimes poor, images. It's also very much about finding beauty and dignity in stories that are sometimes hard to deal with – that's why this image was chosen. The title is set in Lo-Res by Slovak-born type designer Zuzana Licko, from 1985, which adds another level of current history. Or maybe it’s just about the shapes: blank surfaces or building blocks.”

The helmer adds: “By far, [this is] the most painful project that I – that we – have ever worked on. After five years in the making, it has, sadly, become heartbreakingly relevant. While the material itself has been a pleasure to work with – beautiful images, fascinating characters, and a blend of personal stories and geopolitical events – the unfolding of history becomes ever more distressing. We've made every effort to honour both the creators of the footage and the people involved, with the perhaps outdated hope of promoting values like peace and understanding.”

Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989 was produced by Sweden’s Story AB, in co-production with Sweden’s Film i Väst, Finland’s Tekele Productions and Denmark’s Ström Pictures. International sales, excluding North American rights, are being handled by Paris-based outfit Reservoir Docs.

Check out our exclusive poster below: