Vorwärts | September 7, 2018
The documentary addresses the colonial legacy in Palmyra. The Syrian desert city was appropriated by European archaeologists, leading to the demolition and relocation of the original Arab town of Tadmor from the 1930s onward. „To make room for European archaeologists, the mud-brick houses were torn down and the town was rebuilt a few kilometres away.“
Director Hans Puttnies, in his 2017 essay film, shows how, since the 18th century, Palmyra has increasingly been portrayed as an exclusively Roman heritage site. The Arab population was permitted only to operate as souvenir traders. The Assad regime later contributed to consolidating this narrative through the construction of a temple.
The film also documents the darker aspects: while tourists admired the ancient ruins, the nearby city of Tadmor housed „one of the largest torture prisons in the country,“ holding thousands of political prisoners.
After the ISIS conquest, Palmyra became a propaganda site. The film uses original footage, historical engravings, and even ISIS video material to expose this history of manipulation. Puttnies combines personal perspectives with critical analysis and asks: How are the people at historical sites being treated?