British Council Logo UK Films Database
Project Detail

Measures of Distance

Synopsis

Mona Hatoum left Beirut in 1975 for a short visit to London. When war broke out in the Lebanon she found it impossible to return. In this video, letters from her mother in Beirut, written in Arabic, move across the screen. They are read aloud, in English, by the artist. Hatoum's mother is also heard, speaking openly about her feelings and sexuality, accompanied by images of her in the shower.

Hatoum's video suggests exile and displacement. She has said it also challenges 'the stereotype of Arab women as passive, mother as non-sexual being'.

Details

Year
1988
Type of project
Shorts
Running time
16 mins
Director
Mona Hatoum
Producer
Mona Hatoum
Screenwriter
Mona Hatoum
Sound
Iain Macanulty

Genre

Experimental Woman Director

Categories

Artist Project and Video / Experimental

Production Status

Complete

Page updates

This page was last updated on 12th May 2025. Please let us know if we need to make any amendments or request edit access by clicking below.

Suggest amendments

See also

You may also be interested in other relevant projects in the database.

An Immersive Theatre / XR image of a courtroom with large television amongst a wraparound screen with scenes of humanity GAWD v. The People

Director: Yamil Rodriguez, Ivan Alejandro Diaz Cardenas, Stephen Henderson

Year: 2026

In GAWD V. THE PEOPLE, the audience is part of the court, it’s an AI-led tribunal where humanity is on trial for the right to remain on Earth. Volunteer audience members become witnesses aided by agentic legal aids as we defend our continued existence against Nonhumans testifying against human impact. Surrounding projection environments and evolving courtroom visuals transform the space to reflect the trial as evidence accumulates. Presided over by a darkly humorous Judge, GAWD, each performance culminates with an improvised verdict on humanity's survival and what the conditional terms will be. Official Selection Cannes Film Festival 2026 - Immersive Competition - World premiere

Comedy Drama Sci-Fi
Calling You Calling You

Director: Daniel Howard-Baker

Year: 2026

After a middle-aged father falls mysteriously into a coma that transports him to an idealised version of his past, his daughter must do all things necessary to rescue him from an eternal trap.

Dance Drama Experimental Fantasy Music
A super 8 image of a christmas tree. Text says "Would have been great if my tree didn't have any branches.' - Ed about a Christmas tree bag. Three Stars

Director: Anouk Witkowska Hiffler

Year: 2026

Three star reviews are tricky. Some people think they're good and some think they're bad. So they really can go either way.

Comedy Experimental