Aida Returns

This is a sometimes painful, sometimes humorous story of multiple journeys: the journey of loss as the director’s mother Aida struggled with Alzheimer’s disease repeatedly “returning” to the Yafa of her youth; the journey of losing a parent; and the ultimate return journey to Palestine where Aida would finally find rest.

After her mother’s passing, Carol Mansour’s friends volunteered to carry her mother’s ashes with them to Palestine. The film accompanies Carol and her friends as they engineer a way to return her home. A journey that is at the same time very private and yet universal. It is a tribute to the lost past of the director’s family, an attempt to restore part of both an individual and a collective memory, and an affirmation to all those exiled Palestinians forbidden from returning to their homes, even after death.

Directed by Carol Mansour
Produced by Muna Khalidi

Director’s Bio: Carol Mansour is an independent documentary film maker with over 25 years’ experience, achieving international recognition and honor for her films, with hundreds of worldwide festival screenings and official selections, and winning numerous prestigious awards.
Carol’s work reflects her concern for human rights and social justice, covering issues such as migrant workers, refugees, environmental issues, mental health, rights of the disabled, war and memory, right to health, and child labor.

Proceeds from this screening will be donated to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.

Preceded By

Young Hearts

Directed by Marwa El Sharkawy

A poetic reflection on the director’s young nephew’s questions and thoughts about the Gaza war and the fate of children his age in it.