Mayor

Musa Hadid’s credo is simple: First comes the provision of basic urban services, then comes politics. But even in his second term of office as mayor of Ramallah, the de facto capital of Palestine, Hadid’s communal work is dominated by regional conflict. Surrounded by Israeli settlements, Ramallah is only a stone’s throw away from Jerusalem. Every day, the charismatic Hadid hurries from appointment to appointment and, while inspecting a dilapidated school building and organizing a Christmas party, he suddenly finds himself face to face with Israeli soldiers violently attacking protesters. At a time of intense upheaval, as the U.S. moves its embassy to Jerusalem, MAYOR provides unique insights into the work of a mayor who fights for the dignity of his city and the Palestinian people. Director David Osit opens up a fresh perspective on a place that is underrepresented, not only in film, and also on the suffocating burden of occupation.