A true story of cows, deemed a security threat, is the subject for a lazy afternoon film club in North Yorkshire this month.
Settle Stories’ Lazy Sunday Afternoon Film Club will be screening The Wanted 18 at their venue, The Joinery. This astonishing true story follows the Israeli Army’s pursuit of 18 cows and their independent milk production.
In response to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, a group of people from the town of Beit Sahour decide to buy 18 cows and produce their own milk as a co-operative. Their venture is so successful that the collective farm becomes a landmark, and the cows local celebrities: until the Israeli army takes note and declares that the farm is an illegal security threat. Consequently, the dairy is forced to go underground, the cows continuing to produce their ‘Intifada milk’ with the Israeli army in relentless pursuit.
The film recreates the story from the perspectives of the Beit Sahour activists, Israeli military officials and the cows.
Palestinian artist Amer Shomali and veteran Canadian director Paul Cowan use a clever mix of stop motion animation and interviews to recreate the story of The Wanted 18. Shomali’s idea for the film came from the comic books he read in his childhood, which was mostly spent in Syrian refugee camps.
The film screening will be followed by a live-streamed Q&A with co-director Shomali.
The film is part of Settle Stories’ Lazy Sunday Afternoon Film Club which takes place on the last Sunday of every month.
When: 26th May 2019, at 3pm
Where: The Joinery, Market Place, Settle, North Yorkshire BD24 9ED
£: Free to book, but donations welcome to help the Refugee Resettlement Group (suitable for ages 12+)
More info: www.settlestories.org.uk