Meet Jehad

Meet Jehad, a primary subject of Hurdle

Jehad is an energetic and passionate Palestinian living in the At-Tur neighborhood of East Jerusalem. When he joined the Jerusalem Parkour Team, everything changed. What started as just an interest, turned into a way to overcome obstacles and approach life.

“When you see a wall, you imagine what you can do over it. Being able to move from anywhere to anywhere, nothing can stop you."

"You can practice anything. Freedom is one of the things you can practice. Nothing can prevent us from moving free."

Meet Sami

Meet Sami, one of the primary subjects of Hurdle.

Sami is a 24-year-old Palestinian who has lived his whole life in the Old City of Jerusalem. He's also a founder and the coach of the Jerusalem Parkour Team. In the early days, he taught himself parkour by watching videos on Youtube frame-by-frame and today remains devoted to the sport. 

Sami’s passion is unwavering as he teaches his peers to use creativity to overcome obstacles and find freedom.

“When I started practicing parkour,... I actually felt human — trapped and then set free. I am not trapped. There is nothing holding me.

This is why I have become attached to this sport, because I started feeling this freedom - freedom in a country where there is no freedom."

(L-R) Director Michael Rowley with documentary subjects Jehad and Sami

Meet Mohammad

Meet Mohammad, one of Hurdle's primary subjects.

Mohammad lives in Aida Refugee Camp in the Palestinian West Bank. Using his camera to document daily life in the camp, Mohammad looks to the parkour team and any Palestinian creativity as a powerful response to the restrictions placed upon them.
 

“We can resist, the power is not the same, but each Palestinian can choose his tool to resist this occupation and now I have chosen the documenting… [it is] better than waiting for other countries to end this occupation or destroying this wall...”

(L-R) Hurdle Director Michael Rowley and Mohammad in Aida Camp