Cannes 2024: 'La Belle de Gaza': Yolande Zauberman's documentary spotlights trans Arab women

The film includes their struggles with isolation, societal acceptance, and strained family relationships.

French documentarian Yolande Zauberman's latest film, "La Belle de Gaza" (The Beauty of Gaza), is set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, shedding light on the lives of trans Arab women in Tel Aviv. The documentary, inspired by a chance encounter while filming her previous award-winning film "M," follows Zauberman's quest to find a woman who had walked from Gaza to Tel Aviv to pursue her identity as a trans woman.

The film intimately portrays the lives of these women, including their struggles with isolation, societal acceptance, and strained family relationships. It fearlessly tackles complex issues like LGBTQ+ rights, Muslim and Jewish relations, and the Arab citizenry in Israel. 

Although completed before the recent conflict between Hamas and Israel, the film's politically charged subject matter prompted Zauberman to delay its release. However, after positive feedback from test screenings, she decided to proceed with the film's distribution in France.

The film's potential release in Israel remains uncertain, as Zauberman has left the decision to the women featured in the documentary, prioritising their safety and comfort. This decision will be made after the Cannes premiere, where the film's subjects are expected to be present.