Frames of Resistance: The Dupes

The Dupes (Al-Makhdūʿūn), directed by Tewfik Saleh, is a 1972 masterpiece restored in 2023 by the World Cinema Project of The Film Foundation. This politically charged adaptation of Men in the Sun (1963), a novel by renowned Palestinian writer and resistance leader Ghassan Kanafani, recounts a harrowing tale of exile, displacement, and betrayal.

Set in 1950s Iraq, the film follows three Palestinian refugees of different generations as they attempt to cross into Kuwait, the so-called “Promised Land.” Concealed in the steel tank of a smuggler’s truck, the men cling to fragile hope, but their journey lays bare the brutal realities of dispossession and systemic injustice.

The film’s critical lens on Arab leadership led to censorship and boycotts, yet its unyielding message continues to resonate today. As conflicts persist and the Palestinian cause remains urgent, The Dupes is more relevant than ever. The film reminds us of the enduring struggle of displaced peoples, the failure of solidarity, and the human cost of political betrayal.

The screening will be followed by a discussion with artist Reem Shilleh and researcher Brigitte Herremans (Ghent University), moderated by Wouter Hessels (Film historian RITCS).

Program

• 19:00 Introduction by Iman Lechkar (Chairholder VUB Fatima Mernissi Chair)

• 19:15 Screening The Dupes

• 21:10 - 21:40 Discussion with artist Reem Shilleh and researcher Brigitte Herremans, moderated by film historian Wouter Hessels