Israa & her little brother live a small, perfect life despite the fires that surround them. The camp they live in is their playground, the Israeli drones above them remind them of flying, their laughter is a protest and they protest often.
Israa has also been tussling with suicidal ideation & depression because of the attacks on her hometown of Jenin, Palestine. We’ve witnessed so much bloodshed- it’s easy to forget that a Palestinian child’s trauma is a life sentence. One of the largest invisible wounds one can know in this life.
Israa somehow still has space in her heart to feel the guilt of being safe from a more brutal violence in Gaza.
I feel the guilt of being worlds away from any violence at all, but still I feel intimately tied to children like her, they keep me up.
This film is about the string that ties all of us to every child in pain.
We are every child.
@Mustafathepoet - A visionary, leader of empathy & emotion, and a true writer of our times.
I’m so proud to be a part of this project. Thank you for your passion, your art, your pain, your understanding and ability to make everyone that crosses your path feel Love. And to my new baby brother, Abdul. You are a light, force to be reckoned with, a beautiful soul with a pure heart. I feel so proud to watch you grow in all the ways you have, even with the cards that life has dealt you. You are smart, you are kind, you are respectful , your love for your family and you are everything that a young boy should be. You Remind me of my Anwar. Of my baba as a young boy. And it makes me smile.
Ramy , Hiam and Sakir.. thank you for your patience, education, love of the arts, love for humanity, and excitement for projects. You are the reason film has meaning and beauty. I love you so deeply.
Starring:
Bella Hadid
@bellahadid
MC Abdul
@mca.rap
Israa Ahmad Ar'arawi
Younes Ahmad Ar'arawi
Directors: Hiam Abbass &
@sakirkhader
Executive Producers: Mustafa Ahmed, Bella Hadid & Ramy Youssef
@ramy
Producers:
Omar
@omaralbach
Nora
@noratheexplorer
Editor: Cameron Roberts
Production Designer: Mona Mekkawi
@monamekkawi
Stylist: Yasmin Ali
@yazmuthafuckinali
Makeup: Nadia Tayeh
@tuddynana