Alam, France/ Saudi Arabia / Tunisia / Qatar / Occupied Palestinian Territory 2022

This title was screened at the Hyde Park  Picture House as part of the Leeds Palestinian Film Festival. The majority of screenings seem to have been at Film Festivals. The Palestinian production company is Philistine Films, which is responsible for a number of films addressing the situation and experience of Palestinians; it includes the fine When I Saw You / Lamma shoftak 2012, set among displaced Palestinians following the 1967 war. As is usually the case this production relies on inputs from both Arab countries and European states; the production was shot in Tunis.

The title, ‘Alam’ is found in a number of languages with several meanings; one use in Arabic is ‘flag’, though literally it refers to the flagpole. The drama is set among the Palestinian Arabs who live in the part of occupied Palestine known as Israel. The drama centres round the celebration of the Founding or Independence Day of Israel; this is May 14th in the western calendar but the ‘5th of the month of Lyar’ for Israelis. Dispossessed Palestinians mourn their lost country on May 15th, Al-Nakba.

For Palestinians who stayed on the land that became Israel, Israel’s Day of Founding is not a reason for celebration; they suffer from an apartheid state.. For their exams, high school students have to learn Israel’s version of history, with the stories of dispossessed former Palestinians being suppressed.

Tamer (Mahmood Bakri) is drawn to a new high school student Maysaá (Sereen Khass) and through her becomes involved in an act of defiance of the occupiers’ celebrations. These centre on the flagpole at the school reserved for the Israeli flag. The staff at the school mainly try to comply with the dominant values of the occupier state. We see and hear one teacher who resolutely insists on the Israeli falsified version of Palestine history. Another teacher does show some sympathy with students who resist this indoctrination.

Tamar has already received several warnings over his behaviour, mainly because of his laid back attitude to study and the official curriculum.  His friendship group seems more interested in pop music, streaming and girls though they do resent the authoritarian control of the Israeli state. But Tamer, through his school detention, becomes friendly with Safwat (Muhammad Abed Elrahman) who is more outspoken about their situation and would like to take action. This leads to a plan to replace the Israeli flag on the school flagpole with the Palestinian flag, banned in Israel. The motivation of the group varies but all, including Maysaá, take part.

Tamer, Maysaá and Safwat at the demonstration

However, their approach and planning is amateur. On the actual day of the celebrations a group of students take part in a public demonstration o f opposition. The response of the Israeli police and military rapidly becomes violent. And the final response of the friends is a memorial act which is still an act of defiance.

Tamer‘s family already have the experience of Israeli repression which leads to tensions within his family. His father (Amer Hlehel) is worried because of events in the past. One of his brothers was seized and imprisoned by the Israelis: this led to the death of his father [Tamar’s grandfather] and this has led to the surviving other brother, (Uncle Naji / Saleh Bakri) to suffering a mental breakdown. He spends much of his time setting fires [a symbolic as well as actual ailments]: and late in the movie he sets fire to an old olive tree in the square outside the now vacant grandfather’s house: also obviously symbolic. For much the time Tamar uses this house rather than the family home, entertaining both friends and Maysaá there.

The film effectively combines moments of humour with more serious drama. The film is handsomely shot in colour and full widescreen. The cast are completely convincing their characters offer a range of responses of Palestinians to the heavy hand of state control. The drama develops well and the cinematography and editing provide a detailed canvas.

This feature is written and directed by Firas Khoury; he has already made some short movies. He is also involved in organising screenings and cinematic events throughout Palestine. This feature is shot in colour and anamorphic wide screen, 2.35:9. The running time is 109 minutes. The dialogue is in Arabic and Hebrew with English sub-titles.

The experience of Palestinians living in Israel is often overlooked in the media. Given the repression taking place in Israel of Palestinian expression an opposition to the war, this is a welcome opportunity to get a sense of this Palestinian world. The movie take son particular resonance because of the current repression of Palestinian Arabs who attempt to take a stand on the war on Gaza.

In colour and a ratio of 2.39:1, running time 109 minutes, in Arabic and Hebrew with English subtitles.