A superb new documentary film - "until when ..." - has recently been released in the USA. It has been very much a labor-of-love and has taken the Palestinian Falafel Daddy Productions team four years to make. It is an extraordinary, 'everyday-story' of native Palestinians who are refugees in their own land. Shot by an indigenous team entirely in their native land, and in Arabic with clear sub-titling, no non-Palestinian appears in it, nor does any member of the production team. There are no eye-catching shots of foreigners being brave: it is a Palestinian story which is what makes this riveting film different and very special.

Dr Jess Ghannam, associate Producer, explains the motivation behind the documentary: "I think it is important to understand why we did this film. The four of us [filmmakers] had been watching a lot of films about Palestine and, frankly, we were a little upset (to put it mildly), because what we found among the genre of "Palestinian" films is that most of them had been made by non-Palestinians. We felt that there was something missing…and also that there was something really problematic about other people trying to speak on behalf of us, our struggle, our history, our narrative."

The film tells the story of several generations of four families living in, but not from, Dheisheh Refugee Camp near Bethlehem, in the words of its charismatic and articulate participants who appear as natural as though there were no camera present. Their wit and charm will capture your heart, for they have clearly emerged from 56 years of dispossession and brutal oppression not wallowing in victim-hood, but with their humanity and dignity intact. As Jess puts it: "We are resisting extermination, we're resisting existential removal from our land, and we're resisting this brutal juggernaut of an occupation - supported by this administration - with tremendous dignity."

At only 75 minutes in length and brilliantly edited with a fine economy, "until when …" has yet succeeded, through the eloquence and humor of its participants, in portraying a densely-detailed picture of the unique way that the indigenous Palestinian people have succeeded in living what is generally described as 'a happy life' despite the cruel and illegal Israeli occupation - without a superfluous sentence. In the words of Jess Ghannam:

"Getting to know the individuals in the film gave us, and I hope it gives the viewer, an incredible sense of what it means to Resist in Palestine - as 13-year-old Fadi says in the film, "The Intifada is not just throwing stones - it is something inside you." And if you see this film, what you see is that Resistance is living, is having your family, is having dignity, is loving, is connecting, in the face of brutal occupation."

In their most recent program on Pacifica Radio, Johaiyna Marlow and John Young of the Middle East Radio Project (MERP) in Berkeley, CA featured the film "until when…" through the eyes of Jess Ghannam. MERP's web-site features the whole of this compelling interview in which Jess talks eloquently about the making of this documentary and about the film's significance in understanding the Palestinian experience and the Palestinian struggle for Justice. In addition to audio files of the complete interview during which you will hear terrific excerpts from the film and its soundtrack, the website includes photographs and further information - www.me-radio.org (Program date: February 16th 2005)

It's a great film for a group to experience together (possibly followed by a discussion, or a listen to Jess' interview on the making of the film); when you have seen it you will want to show it to all your friends - this reviewer has watched it six times and sees more significant detail in it each time. The cinematography is first-class and the camera operators deserve recognition for outstanding work in impossible circumstances. The coloration is so true that I felt I was there! And the sound-track is as clear as a bell. In addition, the music was specially composed and recorded by Palestinian, Iranian and Arab musicians after the film was cut and edited; as a result, the diverse pieces blend perfectly into the seamless, deeply-moving narrative, unobtrusively supporting and enhancing the cinematography as an essential, indeed perfect, component. A CD is available on the film's website - www.falafeldaddy.org

"Until when… is about our deep commitment to returning to our land. Because the Palestinian narrative is about return; the Palestinian narrative is about being a refugee, having the right to return, and keeping that consciousness in our minds; and then making sure that we speak to each of our successive generations about returning, about being connected to our land, our history, our culture…"

 - Jess Ghannam

© Copyright 2005 by AxisofLogic.com

Anne Gwynne, a member of the International Federation of Journalists, lives and works in Nablus. She is a 66-year-old grandmother and retired bank manager from Wales and can be reached at: gwynne_anne@hotmail.com