Cherien Dabis on 'All That's Left of You': A Palestinian Epic of Love, Trauma, and Resilience

The Genesis of 'All That's Left of You'

• 💡 Inspired by her father's exile and personal experiences with occupation, filmmaker Cherien Dabis sought to tell a Nakba story that explores its ongoing impact.
• 🧠 The film aims to humanize the Palestinian experience, showcasing their joys, sorrows, resilience, and dreams of freedom.
• 🎯 The title, "All That's Left of You," emphasizes love as the enduring element that remains after surviving life's adversities.

Organ Donation as a Metaphor

• 💔 The film uses organ donation, specifically a Palestinian heart in an Israeli body, as a powerful metaphor to explore identity, legacy, and connection.
• ⚠️ It prompts reflection on whether one can truly feel another's pain and the complicity in perpetuating suffering.
• 🕊️ Dabis intended this metaphor to challenge audiences to see beyond their own pain and recognize the suffering of others.

Rooted in Humanity, Not Conflict

• ✨ The filmmaker intentionally focused on love, kindness, and generosity rather than conflict, reflecting her personal experience of Palestinian culture.
• ✊ Palestinians are portrayed as resisting oppression by upholding their humanity and choosing compassion over hatred.
• 🌱 The film highlights the grace and deep sense of self that enables Palestinians to endure ongoing suffering and find meaning.

Intergenerational Trauma and Healing

• ⏳ "All That's Left of You" spans four distinct periods of Palestinian history: 1948 (Nakba), 1970s (occupation), 1988 (First Intifada), and the contemporary era.
• 🎭 Each period features a shifting focus on characters, with women often stepping into roles of strength and healing as men are brutalized by occupation.
• 🩹 The film explores the concept of "present traumatic stress" and the possibility of healing ongoing trauma.

Production Challenges and Resilience

• 🌍 The film's production was a testament to resilience, beginning pre-production in Palestine in May 2023, only to be evacuated due to events in October 2023.
• 🇯🇴 Filming was relocated to Jordan, shooting in Palestinian refugee camps, and later completed in Greece, with some shots managed in Palestine.
• 🎬 Despite significant budget increases and logistical hurdles, the crew worked tirelessly to recreate Palestine outside its borders, maintaining authenticity through the efforts of a diverse international team.

Oscar Submission and Global Impact

• 🏆 The film's selection as Jordan's official submission for the Best International Feature Film Oscar is seen as a victory for Palestinian voices.
• 🌍 Dabis hopes the film will encourage introspection, prompt audiences to lead with their humanity, and open hearts to an emotional perspective often missing from mainstream narratives.
• 🤝 For the UN community, the film underscores the importance of recognizing Palestinian suffering and the necessity of acknowledging injustices for achieving a just peace.