Years after leaving her Palestinian village to pursue an acting career in France, Hiam Abbass returns home with her daughter, in this intimate documentary about four generations of women and their shared legacy of separation.

The Garden Cinema View:

The film is many things, a love letter to the director’s own mother, actress Hiam Abbass (Lemon Tree, Succession), an ode to exile, a moving recollection of forced displacement, an exploration of Palestinian identity, and a celebration of female strength and resilience. Shot with sensitivity and candour, the film also allows Lina to portray her own experience as a third-generation child, navigating her own heritage and path. The focus however is firmly on Hiam, who grapples with all that was lost when her grandparents were expelled from Tiberias. All the pieces of the puzzle fit together to tell the story of four generations of women keeping their Palestinian identity and culture alive.