Genre: Drama, History
Actor: Ali Suliman, Amer Hlehel, Elia Suleiman, Maisa Abd Elhadi, Menashe Noy, Mira Awad, Saleh Bakri, Samar Qudha Tanus, Shafika Bajjali, Zuhair Abu Hanna
Director: Elia Suleiman
1. The Time That Remains, 2009
While many Palestinians had to leave their homeland, there are some families that stayed within the region. One such family is that of Palestinian director Elia Suleiman. The Time That Remains is a semi-biographical film that depicts each generation of the family in excellently framed, colorful shots, but while each scene is a beauty to watch, there’s an ugly undercurrent with the way one group is treated over the other. The film contrasts the stoic actions of Elia’s father Fuad and that of the Israeli soldiers, teachers, and nurses around them, and the contrast channels a dry sort of humor that pokes at the absurdity the occupation places 20% of its citizens through. It’s a smart, subtle way to depict the rage felt by the many people that remained in the area, as well as the sadness they must have felt with the loss, the pain, and the displacement they’ve gone through.