All That’s Left of You: Palestinian Family Love & Loss Film
- AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy now!, democracynow.org.
- We turn now to a feature film that looks at seven decades of Palestinian history through teh lens of one family's experience over three generations, beginning in 1948.The...
- HANAN: [played by Cherien Dabis] No one ever thought any of this would happen.
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy now!, democracynow.org. I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan González.
We turn now to a feature film that looks at seven decades of Palestinian history through teh lens of one family’s experience over three generations, beginning in 1948.The film is All That’s Left of You by the Palestinian American director and actress Cherien Dabis. The film is Jordan’s official entry for the international feature oscar. It’s been shortlisted. This is the trailer.
MALEK: [played by Rida Suleiman] [translated] We should go home.
NOOR: [played by Muhammad Abed Elrahman] [translated] Why? You scared?
HANAN: [played by Cherien Dabis] No one ever thought any of this would happen. I’m here to tell you how it started.
YOUNG SALIM: [played by Saleh El Din] [translated] I am the sea / In my depths all treasures dwell.
OLDER SHARIF: [played by Mohammad bakri] [translated] They take your land, your money. Call this a life? Don’t be foolish, son.
SOLDIER: [played by Adam Khattar] [translated] Get on the ground. Get on the ground!
SALIM: [played by Saleh Bakri] [translated] I wanted to protect you. I was afraid for you.
SHARIF: [played by Adam Bakri] [translated] As long as Dad is here, you don’t have to be scared.
HANAN: [translated] What use are we as parents if we can’t protect our kids?
IMAM: [translated] Your humanity is also resistance. Don’t forget the power of your humanity. It’s the one thing no one can take away from you.
HANAN: I wanted to explain why we are here, what my family went through.
AMY GOODMAN: That was the trailer for the film All That’s Left of You. Appearing in the film as the renowned Palestinian actor and director Mohammad Bakri, who died in December at the age of 72. Bakri appears in the film alongside his sons Adam and Saleh, who are also actors.
This is a clip from the film
A Family’s Story Amidst Decades of Conflict
Filmmaker Cherien Dabis’s new project follows one Palestinian family through three generations, from 1948 to the present day. The film explores how historical events and political upheaval shape individuals, relationships, and the destinies of families. Ultimately,it’s a story about resilience,the will to survive,and the enduring power of humanity in the face of immense loss.
Dabis began filming in the occupied West Bank before the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and the subsequent war in Gaza. She continued production in the West bank even as violence against Palestinians escalated.
“Within days of October the 7th, things became extremely tense,” Dabis explained. “West Bank cities and towns were being sealed off. Checkpoints were closing. And it was clear that we weren’t going to be able to move around.”
Dabis and her crew, including foreign filmmakers who had recently arrived in Palestine, evacuated by October 10th. They relocated to Cyprus,where they had planned to film a smaller portion of the movie.
Faced with a difficult choice, the filmmakers considered delaying the project until conditions in Palestine improved or continuing production elsewhere.