Click here to view the trailer of this film.

The film screening will be followed by a discussion with film director George Snow. Screening will start on Saturday November 27, at 12:00 Noon US EST; 7:00 PM Palestine Time. 37 minutes, English.

About the Film

The film “The Fall of the House of Usher” is a story within a story within a story. It reflects the conflict between Semite and Semite. Palestinian versus Israeli. In the case of Edgar Allan Poe’s original, it can be seen in the tale of Ethelred against the Dragon which is echoed in the conflict between Roderick Usher and his sister Madeline. In turn this production provides another layer; the Palestinian’s struggle with their oppressors; the state of Israel, illegal settlements and Israeli extremists.
The film does not attempt to preach from a pulpit. It does not see itself as a propagandist work. It can be seen as a sketchbook filled with drawings made at first hand on the streets of Palestine. Its message is “This is what it’s like.” I speak as one who has witnessed the many humiliations heaped upon the people of that delightful land.
The film is a collage with footage taken in the streets of Nablus, the village of Poggioni in Tuscany, 3D animation, live action in the studio and found documentary footage. It never attempts to use conventional continuity rather it takes what it considers to be appropriate according to a dramatic narrative collage. It is an experiment with form. How to tell a story with disparate elements. In this manner it is freeform and permits the viewer to draw his own conclusions. Nevertheless, the essential point is to allow the viewer a glimpse into life in Palestine and the horrors of the occupation which has continued since 1967; or to be more precise since 1948.

The film was made on a budget of less than £1,000. Perhaps this is the new reality. But given a decent computer, a history of image making and an excess of free time it is perfectly possible to create as one will.

‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ is set in Palestine and features the Palestinian actress Riham Isaaq as Madeline Usher and introduces Alex Macbeth from the UK as Roderick Usher. He lives in Cortona, Tuscany.

I thank those who have supported me and to the actors who worked for free or for a pittance. I owe them a lot.

About the Director

George Snow was educated at Tal Handak Royal Naval School, Malta, and at Windsor Boys School, Westphalia, Germany. He studied filmmaking and graphic design at Hornsey College of Art where he also subsequently lectured. He has taught at the Royal College of Art in London, The Danish Design School, The Royal Danish Academy, Parsons (New York) and Syracuse (New York State.) He is honorary professor at the Duncan of Jordanstone College of the University of Dundee.

While at college he spent time in Northern Ireland as a war photographer during the period ‘Internment Without Trial’ to ‘Bloody Sunday’. His work was published in Morning Star, Socialist Worker, Time Out, International Times and OZ
After leaving college he worked closely with Albion records designing record sleeves and the logo for 999, Ian Gomm, the dbs, PinPoint and the Outskirts. His music industry design work was regularly featured in Edward Booth-Clibborn’s European Illustration during the 80’s.
His graphic work has been featured in Harpers & Queen, Vogue, the Sunday Times, The New York Times, Penguin Books, New Scientist, Playboy and BBC Publications.
His music video work includes several videos for the Art of Noise, Jack ‘n’ Chill, Ultraviolet, the Stranglers and London Beat- whose record ‘I’ve Been Thinkin’ About You’ was a worldwide number one. ‘Beatin’ the Heat’ for Jack ‘n’ Chill rose to number three in the UK charts.
He was commissioned by Channel 4 to make 2 short dramas as part of John Wyver’s ‘Ghosts in the Machine’ series. His drama ‘The Assignation’ won several awards including a special commendation at the Tokyo Video Festival in 1989.
His first animation ‘Tall Story’, commissioned by Carlton TV, was a finalist in the 1995 British Animation Awards.

His installation ‘Motorway’, made in collaboration with the Art of Noise, was exhibited in the Worldwide Video Festival in Den Haag, the Melkweg in Amsterdam and Video Brazil in Sao Paulo.
The single screen version of ‘Motorway’ was shown at the London Film Festival in 1993 and at ‘Video Positive’ at the Tate gallery Liverpool. His installation
During his stay in Italy George has designed web sites for the leading Florentine fashion house n9ve and the designer Mauro Taliani. On his return to London in 2010 he designed, the sleeve for the Nitewreckage album ‘Take Your Money and Run’.

In 2009 he organised ‘Bike Palestine’ (www.bikepalestine.com) a 7 day tour cycle tour of Palestine in collaboration with the Siraj Centre in Bethlehem.

In 2013 he completed APES. A 360 degree panoramic movie based on the works of the architects Alberti, Piranesi and Escher. APES is curated by Tom van Vliet of the WWVF and made in collaboration with the Vrije Academie in Den Haag. It is endorsed by the Escher Museum of that city.

In 2016 his Virtual Reality work ‘APES’ was shown at the Cannes film festival and at the Animaze festival in Montreal.

Free virtual screening of the film “The Fall of the House of Usher” directed by George Snow.