Written and directed by Mohanad Yaqubi, co-written by Mathilde Rouxel, seeking to decode a final, unanswered invitation, a filmmaker explores why the renowned Lebanese director Jocelyne Saab reached out for a collaboration just two months before her passing.
As soon as Revolutionaries Never Die opens it builds an incredibly strong presence, it holds wise and meditative qualities and quickly absorbs you into the documentary. That’s something which Mohanad Yaqubi crafts consistently all throughout the film. A big part of that is having the intimate perspective from Yaqubi, to bring context but to also reflect upon Jocelyne Saab’s work, how it connects to his own life, the impressive nature of how she captured film, and the incredible library of footage she captured.
The footage itself is fantastic, unquestionably Yaqubi will have had a vast selection to choose from and the way that Revolutionaries Never Die uses that footage is in a very thoughtful manner. Creating a homage both to Saab herself and to the people of Lebanon, to their resilience and strength. The footage portrays their endless spirit in harsh times, suffering through a war-time existence but finding a way to forge ahead.
In that sense there’s a haunting edge to Revolutionaries Never Die, knowing the loss which lies behind this footage, of both civilians in the conflict and of Saab herself. It’s a heavy topic but the way that Yaqubi and Mathilde Rouxel deliver it is thoughtful and respectful. They also capture how filmmakers like Saab make a genuine effort to create cinema that encapsulates the love they have for their homeland, and the sincere desire to support it in difficult times. As well as being a wonderful example of how filmmakers live on through their work.
Revolutionaries Never Die is a contemplative, reverential documentary, paying homage to Jocelyne Saab. Having Mohanad Yaqubi connect the footage in both a literal and emotional sense was a lovely choice. It feeds so well into the reflective nature of the film and has a very compelling atmosphere. It potentially might have been beneficial to spend a little more time on the background of Saab, for viewers unfamiliar with her work, but it does also serve to encourage people after viewing to discover more about her on their own.
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