Goal Dreams

Goal Dreams recounts the obstacles faced by the Palestinian national soccer team, beginning with the literal absence of a “home field.”

The film offers a lively and thought-provoking look at how even something as seemingly apolitical as a sporting competition is thwarted by territorial stand-offs. The players include athletes of Palestinian descent from around the world (including the U.S. and Chile, with an Austrian coach) since there aren’t enough players able to exit Palestine for practice to field a team. The film charts the progress of the team as they train in Egypt for a World Cup qualifying match—and as literal, cultural, and linguistic barriers prevent their uninterrupted practice. At times a very dark comedy, the film is also a stirring case study of the team’s struggle for identity and self-determination. (84 mins., video)

This screening is part of an occasional yearlong series marking and commemorating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel.