The Only Palestinian Filmmaker in Cannes' Official Selection Made His Debut Without a Script - and with a Real Bedouin Family

A wide shot shows women working in a fertile field under snow-capped Anti-Lebanon mountains while a war drone sound persists in the background. The film follows a Bedouin family caught in intertribal blood feuds and honor-and-retaliation cultural practices. Filming occurred in eastern Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley during a ceasefire described as one-sided, with Israeli jets bombing during production. Drone and explosion sounds were incorporated in post-production to reflect the reality of daily life. The drone noise is presented as psychological warfare that signals presence and control, while the story maintains a focus on the conflict between two tribes alongside a larger geopolitical context.

"“I tried to have this turmoil in the background. Israel has been bombing Lebanon whenever it wants. We were filming during a so-called ceasefire, a ceasefire from one side. There were two takes where Israeli jets bombed, obviously not near us, and we had the sound of explosions on the dialogue in the take. We had to remove the frequency in post.”"

"“The moment I wanted it, it was not there. So [we] added it in post, just to have a nuance of this daily life. Israel uses psychological warfare to remind you [they] are here. They can silence the drones if they want, but they keep the sound on. I tried not to take a fully political stance, but [give] more like a political stage.”"

"“The two tribes are in a fight. There's also the bigger picture, the geo”"

Read at IndieWire