Chinese Ink (2016)

Chinese Ink (2016) poster

In Chinese Ink, composed from a series of shots taken with an iPhone, Salhab expands questions of location and the act of filmmaking itself. Some images were captured in the moment ‘without quite knowing why’, and others were filmed at an earlier time ‘with no apparent motive’ or as a result of specific circumstances. Salhab jotted down notes all along, excerpts from books he read or reread, sounds he recorded and preserved. He approached this film essay as a work in progress with no preconceived structure; instead, he let the work gradually reveal itself. All at once, in terms of ‘place’ and his relationship to ‘here’, with all its entanglements, it became clear to him that he needed to invoke the ‘elsewhere’, to start with the first place, his childhood in Senegal, and ‘retrace’ certain steps: his connection to armed struggles, the Palestinian cause, the present moment.

Director: Ghassan Salhab
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 55 min
Release Date:
Country: Lebanon
Language: العربية, English, Français, Deutsch
Original Language: fr
More Films by Director: Ghassan Salhab
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chinese Ink about?
In Chinese Ink, composed from a series of shots taken with an iPhone, Salhab expands questions of location and the act of filmmaking itself. Some images were captured in the moment ‘without quite knowing why’, and others were filmed at an earlier time ‘with no apparent motive’ or as a result of specific circumstances. Salhab jotted down notes all along, excerpts from books he read or reread, sounds he recorded and preserved. He approached this film essay as a work in progress with no preconceived structure; instead, he let the work gradually reveal itself. All at once, in terms of ‘place’ and his relationship to ‘here’, with all its entanglements, it became clear to him that he needed to invoke the ‘elsewhere’, to start with the first place, his childhood in Senegal, and ‘retrace’ certain steps: his connection to armed struggles, the Palestinian cause, the present moment.
Who directed Chinese Ink?
Chinese Ink was directed by Ghassan Salhab.
How long is Chinese Ink?
Chinese Ink has a runtime of 55m (55 minutes).
What genre is Chinese Ink?
Chinese Ink is a Documentary film.
Where was Chinese Ink produced?
Chinese Ink was produced in Lebanon.