The Apollo of Gaza

Nicolas Wadimoff’s documentary is a courageous work of non-fiction cinema. Centred on the discovery and subsequent disappearance of a statue of Apollo in Gaza, the film ultimately becomes far more than an investigation into a lost antiquity. Through the statue’s cycle of discovery, disappearance, and uncertainty, Wadimoff reflects on storytelling, mythology, history, culture, and collective identity, particularly during a period of war in which a people’s survival is under threat.

The film also challenges viewers who have encountered Gaza primarily through images of violence and devastation, revealing a territory rich in history, creativity, and beauty. The emergence of the statue from Gaza invites the world to see the territory not merely as a site of conflict, but also as a place of cultural creation and archaeological discovery. With courage and sensitivity, Wadimoff portrays the resilience of the Palestinian people and the individuals who recognize and affirm that resilience.

Ultimately, questions about the statue’s present location, whether it was concealed by the government, whether it is an original more than two thousand years old or an imitation, and whether Apollo existed at all become secondary. The statue transcends its status as an archaeological object, emerging instead as a powerful symbol of something far more significant: the strength, pride, and courage of the people of Gaza.

Badewa Ajibade
Filmmaker and programmer