Farha (2021)
The last time I felt such profound sadness and speechlessness after a film was when I watched Capernaum on the big screen. I wish this film played in the cinemas as well because these are the kinds of movies that need to be seen. In its short runtime, Farha packs a heavy amount of powerful and heart wrenching emotions that give an insight into the tragedy of Al Nakba that took place in Palestine in 1948. Here, we get to see a story of young girl and as shattering as it might look, it's important to remember that there were tens of thousands of similar and possibly more tragic stories all across the country.
The tale begins with a pleasant portrayal of a small Palestinian village where we get to witness ordinary life of the villagers with their share of hardships and joys. Children are playing in the nature, people are getting married and a girl named Farha has big dreams of going to a city school to get a proper education. All of a sudden, the happiness and dreams are erased by bombs and gunfire while the smiles are replaced with screams, tears and terror. Farha's father hides her in a provisions closet with hopes of shielding her from the horror but eventually, the horror comes knocking at the door.
Despite the harrowing history and nature of the events, the director masterfully sets up the scenes in a balance that allows the audience to make their own observations and pass their own judgements. The moive doesn't go overboard with violence and instead, creates impactful moments that will suck the life out of you. In between, there are periods of silence, darkness and suffocating claustrophobia that show so much that is unspoken while allowing the audience to catch a break and ponder the events.
The acting from Karam, the girl that plays Farha, is great throughout the film as she is able to depict hope, despair, fear and the will to live. Artistically, there are multiple small elements like the use of lighting that provide an additional touch to this powerful film. When the end credits play, you wont be able to move because of the music and because of a piece of history that your have just witnessed.
