The markets and malls that we visit today for a quick shopping when compared to the old souqs in the past, serve a completely different purpose. The souq in the past was not only for getting the necessary commodities, but also a focal point connecting people of the same willayat and other visitors to the place. Generally, souqs are publicly-accessible pedestrian markets with arcades, plazas and numerous shops where people regularly gather to purchase and sell goods, socialize and walk. The souq was a social gathering where everyone meets with friends. It was like a hub for entertainment.
We still notice some old people clinging to their past. Some go regularly to the souq where only few of their friends are still alive. Some decided not to let go their small shops although they don’t get sufficient return to cover the costs of running the business.
“The Last Remaining” is a documentary that features some of the interesting stories of the oldest merchants of Bahla market, where the merchants recount their experiences with trade in the past and now. The movie uncovers the secret of their business survival for many decades- up to 70 years in some cases.
Historically, this is a significant documentary as it highlights the status of Bahla’s traditional market in its booming era as compared to that of now. Some archival clips of the market show the vitality of life in the market previously. However, this has changed and the market has lost its spirit. It has become a destination for meeting and sitting only.
This change reflects the transformations of social life in Omani society. While life was simple and one central market was sufficient for the whole city, the requirements of modern life have become completely different. Markets have expanded and the city’s life prospered and became more complicated. The traditional, inner market that was yesterday central became traditional now. Only a small group of people, mostly old, continued to visit this place to meet acquaintances.
The documentary casts light on the issue of familiarity which a person may develop in their old age. Almost all of the merchants interviewed were over the age of seventy, but they still go to the market everyday- an activity which they have continued to do for many decades. Despite the fact that their businesses may not be profitable, these old merchants rejoice over daily meetings and conversations with their fellow merchants- an act that connects the present with the past!
The director of the documentary, Ali al Bimani assures that “the visual documentation of events and people remains a historical tool that will last forever that will help the future generations in their research and study. In this 20-minutes documentary we targeted that life of the Omani merchants in the past. The life that will disappear forever in the days to come. To the whole world, this film will document the struggle and hard work of the Omani people, their simplicity, and fight to build their country”.
During the film shooting, the whole team of the production realized that the documentation project that we are aiming to achieve is large, long and uninterrupted. It requires money, time, and extensive knowledge. “after winning the Best Film Award in the International Short Film Festival in Moscow, we are determined to participate in different contest, with many documentary films that tell the different stories of Omanis in the past and their methods of survival”, he added.
The team: Hamad al Qasabi, Ali al Bimani and Abdulrahman al Tamimi.
