Applause, that’s all we can do when a platform supports and showcases Palestinian talents. Indeed, a collection of 32 award-winning movies and documentaries was launched on the U.S. streaming giant Netflix. This move, one of its kind, was praised by the Palestinian community for introducing a global audience to the Palestinian narrative, especially after several series produced by the occupation were featured among the 30 best international TV shows.
“I’m glad to finally have alternative Palestinian films accessible to wide audiences through Netflix,” said May Odeh - producer of the Palestinian film The Crossing. “We, in the Palestinian film industry, have been eager to share our narrative with the world through our authentic creative productions as an alternative to news reporting.”
The funding of movie and series-streaming platforms is often controlled by Israeli backgrounds. This has usually resulted in a bias towards the Zionist narrative. However, this move can be considered as compensation for the previously insufficient Palestinian movies screening space on huge platforms such as Netflix.
Indeed, during the launch of the movies collection, the famous streaming company released a press statement affirming that the collection will “showcase the depth and diversity of the Palestinian experience, exploring people’s lives, dreams, families, friendships, and love.”
The films started streaming on October 14th, and new films were added continuously. The move has been gaining international recognition all over social media platforms and was deemed necessary due to the international attention gained by the Palestinian cause this year. This purpose served as a trigger motivation for Netflix. The recent war in Gaza along with the Sheikh Jarrah events was not affiliated with any faction and was mainly reported by Palestinian individuals across all social media outlets, which drew attention to the Palestinian perspective. In fact, after Human Rights Watch accused Facebook of deleting and hiding content posted by Palestinian cause supporters, various media streaming platforms, including Netflix, would want to avoid being put in the same situation.
One of the films included is Children of Shatila, a heartwarming documentary that takes us through the lives of Issa and Farah - two young refugees who were given a small video camera to film their lives - and allows us to see the world through their eyes. In the movie, both children start asking their elders how they felt about leaving Palestine. The film was an attempt to come to terms with the reality of being refugees in a camp that has survived massacres, siege, and starvation. Children of Shatila gained international recognition and was featured in many festivals across Europe.
Behind the aforementioned, internationally acclaimed movie is Mai Masri, a Beirut-based Palestinian filmmaker who studied film production and technique at San Francisco State University. She is one of the many directors and writers whose movies have been included in the released collection. With her husband, Jean Chamoun, Masri founded Nour Productions and directed several award-winning films that focus on the humanity and resilience of ordinary people living through extraordinary times. Her filmography includes: Under the Rubble(1983), Wildflowers (1986), War Generation – Beirut (1989), Children of Fire (1990) among other productions that she has worked on.
An interesting movie by Masri is 3000 Nights (2015). The movie constitutes the latter’s successful debut feature, as it premiered at Toronto International Film Festival and won over 28 international awards. The film is based on the intimate stories of Palestinian women in prison. The protagonist, Layal, is an innocent young school teacher transformed by her imprisonment as she gave birth shackled, bringing her son to life inside a cell. The film introduces Mai’s lifelong interest in the role of women in the resistance, as political actors and fighters.
“I hope these films will raise awareness,” said Nayfeh, writer of The Crossing. “Many people say that they don't know what's happening. Well, now you have access to so many titles that are telling the story in different styles, documentaries, shorts, and feature films. Now people can know the truth. It's a huge thing,” he continued.
With a range of genres, the influx of Palestinian content on Netflix has one consistent and important purpose: great storytelling and a real Palestinian perspective.