Branch of War

Branch of War” is an experimental novel built on a strict structure: fifty chapters, each exactly one hundred words. Hamid Oqabi uses this format not as a stylistic game but as a way to reflect the fractured, unstable rhythm of life during war. Every chapter acts like a short scene, similar to a cinematic frame, presenting quick images, movements, and sounds that gradually form a complete narrative.

The story follows a narrator who sees himself as a fragile branch caught inside a violent, surreal landscape. War appears not only as an external event but as an internal struggle shaped by fear, memory, and the search for identity. Across the fifty scenes, the narrator travels with shifting companions—Socrates, a butterfly, strange animals, shadowy figures—who move between reality, dream, and myth.

The novel blends references to cinema, fine arts, and folklore. Figures such as Hong Sang-soo, Akira Kurosawa, and Van Gogh appear within the narrative, creating a space where film, painting, and story interact. This mixture reinforces the novel’s dream-like atmosphere and its focus on perception rather than strict plot.

Despite the chaos, moments of light and return appear. The final chapters lead the narrator toward home, closing the circle and highlighting themes of loss, resilience, and the enduring need for belonging.