Shatter Hassan - A film by Al Massad



2002. 40 min documentary. 35 mm.


Scenariowriter Paul Bertram about Shatter Hassan: "It's different, and in a strange way very close to home. The film begins as an Arabic fairy tale that goes away in the Netherlands when the invincible hero Shatter Hassan has become a nameless junkie. It is moving that the director (in a voice over and through the nostalgic images of a Dutch city scored with North-African music) projects his feelings of being lost in this fairy tale character. It finally becomes the story of the director trying to retrieve his lost childhood by attempting to come to terms with the sense of belonging nowhere. It is a story about being homeless in a city, being far away from home, having lost your own country, your culture, your roots, your identity.... The director, who comes from the Middle East, conceived, directed, shot, edited, financed, and produced this film solely through his own independent means and efforts, without the help of a film business network. I met him during the final stage of the post-production and was amazed with his passionate way of working and his exquisite way of telling a story through the camera."


- Official Selection Cannes Short Film Corner 2006
- Ambassador of Culture 2003 - Arab World Kids Institute
- Critic Award 2002 - Ismalia International Film Festival
- Golden Hawk 2002 - Arab Film Festival Rotterdam

>> Artical about 'Shatter Hassan' in Royal Wings