The Last Days of Yasser Arafat tells the final chapter in the story of one of the most controversial public figures of our time. In September 2003, Palestinian-Australian filmmaker Sherine Salama travelled to the besieged compound of Yasser Arafat. She had a hunch his days were numbered. After a long, frustrating and often-comical struggle, she finally succeeded in interviewing Arafat in October 2004. And then, in an extraordinary twist of fate, Arafat died the following month. As Salama ingratiates herself with Arafat*s aides and minders, lobbies officials and recruits her own Palestinian friends, she builds a compelling detail of daily life in the compound, as well as identifying the looming health crisis that would eventually lead to Arafat*s death. When he collapses two weeks after the interview, she records every extraordinary twist and turn that follows - the conflicting statements from Arafat*s inner circle, the frenzied hunger of the world*s media and, finally, the confusion and grief of ordinary Palestinians.
Running Time: 57 mins
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