"My Family Inspired Jordan's Generations-Spanning Oscar Submission: ‘All That’s Left Of You’" - Contenders International

Cherien Dabiss latest film, All Thats Left of You, chronicles the lives of three generations of a Palestinian family, tracing their displacement in 1948. The movies production faced unexpected hurdles due to escalating events in Palestine in 2023.

We initially planned to film in Palestine, Dabis shared at Deadlines Contenders Film: International event. I arrived in May 2023 to prepare with my team and spent nearly five months there. We were just two weeks from starting when the October events forced us to evacuate. The situation worsened, and we couldnt return.

Because the original filming locations were no longer accessible, the production moved to Jordan, which is why the film represents the country in its Oscar submission. Leaving behind months of work was extremely difficult, Dabis explained. We had built sets, collected props from different time periods, and had a dedicated Palestinian crew. I tried to bring as many of them as possible to the new locations.

The narrative was deeply personal for Dabis. I wanted to depict three generations of one family, showing how trauma is passed down and exploring the collective memory of 1948, the Nakba. The story comes from my own family experiences, especially my fathers exile in 1967. Growing up, I witnessed his longing for a homeland he could barely visit, and the challenges he faced to obtain foreign citizenship just to return.

She continued, I watched him face harassment and humiliation at borders, and I realized how much the situation shaped his identity, his disillusionment, and his anger toward the ongoing difficulties in his homeland.

Author: Harper Simmons