“From Ground Zero” is a compilation of 22 short films shot by the people of Gaza while undergoing hardships that are only imaginable, from forced displacement to poverty in terms of food and shelter to extreme violence. They are able to show the way their lives are affected only by being in a certain place at a certain time, as Rashid Mashrawi himself phrased it at the London premiere. This film not only portrays economic hardship in conflict zones but also empowers those directly involved and affected, both on screen and behind the scenes. “From Ground Zero” serves as a cultural tool of representation for Palestine to raise awareness, build morale among marginalized communities and inspire meaningful dialogue around solutions to poverty in conflict. The ways in which this can be seen on the ground are manifold.

The Depiction of Poverty in Context

The film portrays life in the Palestinian territories, where poverty is not only economic but deeply tied to displacement, instability and systemic oppression. As stated in a United Nations report, “Poverty in the State of Palestine is projected to rise to 74.3%, affecting 4.1 million people, including 2.61 million people who are newly impoverished.” The report goes on to state the increase of “multidimensional poverty” in Palestine during this time, especially in the areas of housing, services and safety, among others.

This film allows us to analyze, through its audio-visual portrayal of scenes that highlight daily struggles, the impact and outcomes of these newly imposed dimensions of poverty. This is especially evident in the short film “Hell’s Heaven,” in which the narrator is forced to sleep in a body bag to keep warm, where he questions why it should only be provided to him after his death. This highlights a drastic impoverishment and unavailability of access to basic needs, employment and dignity.

Empowerment Through Participation

Most of those involved in the production, including non-professional actors, are directly affected by poverty and conflict, including the director Rashid Mashrawi, many of whose family members are in Gaza. His main purpose for creating this film was representation for Palestine from Palestinians. As he states, “I want to share our stories with the world.”

The act of storytelling gave voice and agency to people often excluded from public narratives. Alongside the despair and devastation, there is also a parallel current of hope, which has been a central aspect of the project from its inception. Amid stories of death and destitution told with a raw documentary realism, emerge narrative shorts that reveal the ways Palestinians continue to seek moments of joy and humanity. One segment captures a puppeteer bringing laughter to young audiences through marionettes. These glimpses of creativity and resilience remind viewers that even in the darkest circumstances, art persists as both refuge and resistance.

His characterization of these people as humans and not statistics gives a sense of reality to the disaster and deprivation they are facing, helping to shed light on the destruction from a non-political perspective. Mashrawi wants “cinema [to] play a role for justice, for humanity,” which can be achieved by using the preservative and far-reaching nature of cinema to highlight current issues. Additionally, it also preserves these stories in history by giving them their due importance and platform, allowing them to speak for themselves and take advantage of the medium of cinema.

Relevance to Current Poverty Issues

As poverty and displacement continue globally, especially in areas of prolonged conflict, the film remains timely. Serving as an educational and motivational resource in community development programs, it uses the arts to foster resilience, making its importance relevant beyond immediate events.

In the current climate of growing poverty and mass unemployment in Gaza—where labor market conditions in the West Bank have also deteriorated significantly—at least 96% of businesses have reported decreased activity and more than 42% have reduced their workforce. More than 300,000 jobs have been lost, pushing unemployment rates from 12.9% in 2023 to 32%. This represents a daily loss of $25.5 million in labor income, eroding the economic resilience of Palestinian households and deepening social hardship.

The scale of this loss reflects not only a financial crisis but also the diminishing sense of security and stability that underpins community life. It further emphasizes the importance of films like “From Ground Zero” in fostering hope and solidarity amid devastation—a symbol of representation for Palestine, especially for those directly and visibly affected every day.

Looking Ahead

“From Ground Zero” is not just a film—it is a platform for dignity, resistance and dialogue. By focusing on real experiences and empowering the impoverished through storytelling, Mashrawi’s work has become a tool for morale-building and advocating systemic change. It takes the viewer away from the political, as is prevalent in most dialogue surrounding Palestine, and focuses on the everyday problems like scarcity, poverty and violence faced by those on the ground.

As such, the film becomes a catalyst for awareness and change, opening up discussions around structural reform, aid and the importance of including marginalized voices in policy and media. Mashrawi is currently working on the follow-up “From Ground Zero Plus,” a series of 10 documentaries as representation for Palestine, where he hopes to present more stories and continue his legacy of spreading awareness for real people in crisis.

– Maryam Qutbuddin

Maryam is based in Reading, UK and focuses on Business and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash