Stopover in Dubai
| Stopover in Dubai | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Chris Marker |
| Screenplay by | Alexandre Réis |
| Music by | Kronos Quartet |
Production company | Delby Picture |
Release date |
|
Running time | 27 minutes |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
Stopover in Dubai is a short documentary that uses found footage to reconstruct the assassination of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a significant military leader of Hamas, who was killed in January 2010 in a luxury hotel in Dubai. The film is based on surveillance footage provided by Dubai’s State Security Service, capturing an operation conducted by 26 agents, allegedly affiliated with Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency. The documentary examines the planning and execution of the mission, which involved identity changes and careful methods to avoid immediate suspicion.[1][2]
Plot
[edit]The documentary is constructed entirely from surveillance footage recorded at various locations, including Dubai’s airport, hotels, and shopping centers.[3] The footage shows the agents’ movements from their arrival at the airport to their departure from the hotel after al-Mabhouh's death in his room. There are no dialogues or narration, only sequences that reveal people walking through hotel lobbies, waiting for elevators, and performing routine tasks. French director Chris Marker added an ominous soundtrack to intensify the film's tension and atmosphere.[4][5]
Production and style
[edit]Stopover in Dubai is an example of found footage documentary,[6] a style in which original materials are used without reenactments or additional staging. The film was edited and restructured by Chris Marker,[7] who added Henryk Górecki’s composition, performed by the Kronos Quartet, replacing the original audio with a more atmospheric soundtrack.[1] Marker aimed to preserve the integrity of the footage, highlighting the methodical and silent nature of the operation through a minimalist approach without narration.[4]
Historical Context
[edit]The assassination of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh[8] occurred on January 19, 2010, in a hotel room in Dubai.[9] Al-Mabhouh was a high-ranking Hamas commander involved in arms logistics and military operations. His death was attributed to Mossad, although he also had adversaries elsewhere in the region. The operation was characterized by the use of false identities and disguises, such as wigs and sports items, which allowed the agents involved to maintain discretion and leave the scene without raising suspicion.[3][10]
Soundtrack
[edit]The soundtrack, composed by Henryk Górecki and performed by the Kronos Quartet,[11] was chosen by Marker to create a more immersive atmosphere. The melancholic tone of the music reinforces the contrast between the calm visuals and the underlying violence suggested by the film.[12] This choice contributes to the tense and reflective mood of the documentary.[1]
Reception and impact
[edit]Stopover in Dubai received positive reviews for its unique approach and was praised for transforming surveillance footage into a visual narrative that explores themes of espionage, surveillance, and ethics in covert operations. Although not widely publicized, the film made a significant impact among film critics and fans of Marker, especially due to its unexpected release on a pseudonymous website called Gorgomancy. The work is regarded more as a visual reflection than a direct political statement on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Feeney, Mark. "Showcasing Chris Marker, the last Encylopediste - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
- ^ "Stopover in Dubai". IFFR EN. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
- ^ a b "PALESTRA DE JAN BAETENS + LA JETÉE, CHRIS MARKER". Agenda Cultural do Porto (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-11-02.
- ^ a b "Stopover in Dubai". archive.transmediale.de. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
- ^ Brunsting, Joshua (2012-07-30). "Filmmaker Chris Marker Dies At Age 91". CriterionCast. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
- ^ "Stopover in Dubai (Chris Marker, 2011)". La Cinémathèque française (in French). Retrieved 2024-11-02.
- ^ "Chris Marker | transmediale". archive.transmediale.de. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
- ^ "The Dubai Operation: Mossad, Murderer & Mayhem in the Desert". spyscape.com. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
- ^ "- Short film programme: Thousand Eyes". www.edith-russ-haus.de. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
- ^ "Stopover in Dubaï". www.centrepompidou.fr (in French). Retrieved 2024-11-03.
- ^ "When People Die, They Sing Songs: Chris Marker's Stopover In Dubai" (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-11-02.
- ^ "Jon Rafman Takeover / Stopover in Dubai - purple TELEVISION". Purple (in French). Retrieved 2024-11-03.