“Mayor” is a documentary set in the city of Ramallah, which is located on the West Bank, and serves as the de facto capital of Palestine.
We see all the events that unfold in this small city through the eyes of its mayor, Musa Hadid: whether it is the fun-filled Christmas festivities which are celebrated with gusto, or a scary and sudden stand-off between an intrusive army and the citizens who eventually send the army cowering off. However, don’t mistake this as a documentary about a mayor who just sits by idly, for the humble Hadid is both the centre of attention and also the pride and joy of Ramallah and its denizens. “Mayor” does a great job of capturing all that he does for his city and its people while trying to maintain his sanity as the conflict between Israel and Palestine rages in the distance.
“Mayor” follows Hadid as he runs from pillar to post, then from Washington, D.C. to Oxford to speak at press conferences and meetings in order to voice the displeasure of the people of Ramallah, whose lives are threatened every time the volcano known as the Israel-Palestinian conflict erupts. Be it something as small as overseeing the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure at a school, or the more daunting task of helping his city and its people recover from the physical and psychological damage and trauma left behind by the army, everything Hadid does for Ramallah leaves a meaningful impact, which helps to not only maintain law and order in the city but also to heal its wounds.
A scene from “Mayor.” Photo: Rise Films 2020.
Hadid’s demands for a sewage treatment facility in Ramallah and establishing the right for his citizens to visit Jerusalem (which is cut off to the people of Palestine) proves to be significant since these open one’s eyes to how the conflict has led to citizens having limited resources while living in harsh conditions with less freedom and more restrictions.
There are times when Hadid feels suffocated and fatigued due to his taxing job of wanting his citizens to live a dignified and easier life sans fear; and, as a result, spending time with his family and unwinding at home proves to be a daunting task due to the stress that weighs him down. The documentary also does a great job of capturing his emotional turmoil. Some scenes which stood out to me include one where Hadid wistfully admires a beautiful portrait of Jerusalem (the city forbidden to his people) as well as another where he turns to the camera and addresses the American documentary crew directly and questions whether America actually cares about helping the people of the Middle East.
I highly recommend “Mayor” to anyone who wants to understand the conflict and politics in the Middle East a tad better. It may not provide any easy solutions to this ongoing conflict, but it will make you realize the need for peace, love, unity, humanity, and hospitality—as well as humility in a world that is falling apart at the seams.
*You can watch “Mayor” on Vudu, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV+.
