Prisoner and Jailer | Abu Salim Prison Massacre | Libyan Short Film

Prisoner and Jailer tells the story of two contrasting Libyans: a key official in the former regime and one of the most prominent figures of the post-revolutionary period in Libya. Through these two characters, we discover the circumstances surrounding one of the most influential events in modern Libyan history: The Abu Salim Prison Massacre.

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Prisoner and Jailer
dir. Muhannad Lamin

Recreating historical events is always going to be tricky, especially when they are described as the "most influential" in a country's modern history. But the weight of the past didn't deter Libyan filmmaker Muhannad Lamin from wanting to set the story of his 16-minute short Prisoner and Jailer around the Abu Salim Prison Massacre, as he looked to tell a specific story, with a universal message.

A dialogue rich piece, the film follows the interactions of a key official in the former regime and one of the most prominent figures of the post-revolutionary period in Libya. A story of conflict and power, throughout the short we learn how the position and command of these opposing men has switched over the years. The tension between the pair is palpable, but it is only in the final scene that we truly understand the breadth of history between them.

Carried by the powerful performances of its central pair, Ali Shol and Eisa Abdulhafeez, Prisoner and Jailer is a gripping watch as it flicks between past and present revealing more about the titular men in the story and the real-life atrocity that inspired it. Aiming to portray the transformation of a victim to an oppressor as a result of power, something that Lamin describes as a "paradoxical situation that Libya has been facing after the revolution", the short plays with expectations as it lets its audience believe one thing, before revealing the truth.

As movie portrayals have taught us to usually side with the imprisoned, this clever switch is important in the success of the film and keeping its audience on their toes. It's a twist of sorts, but not one that feels gimmicky or cheap, but one that is vital in the film's message. As we take our first journey into the past, already over one-third of the way through the film, this narrative detour works to keep viewers engaged and heighten the tension of the short once again. As we flip between past and present right up to the film's conclusion Prisoner and Jailer has two final gut-punches to reveal before the end credits roll - a few sentences to explain the real-life massacre and a tribute to actor Abdulhafeez, who unfortunately passed after the film was finished.

I'm not usually a fan of films that have title cards at the end, but although Lamin's short has impact without it, knowing the details of the massacre that claimed the lives of 1200 inmates adds extra weight to his film. Although knowledge of Libya's history isn't essential to appreciate Prisoner and Jailer, sharing the details of this horrific event helps us to understand more about a country many of us will know little about. Looking at the past is an important factor in helping to shape the future - S/W Curator, Rob Munday

Reproduced on this channel with the permission of the filmmakers.

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