Oscar-nominated and BAFTA award-winning Palestinian-British filmmaker Farah Nabulsi is calling for global empathy towards Palestinians through her debut feature film, The Teacher.
In an interview, Nabulsi emphasized that her film aims to challenge audiences to reflect on the harsh realities Palestinians face under occupation. “I want people to ask themselves: Is this a reality they would accept for themselves? And if it isn’t, why have Palestinians been expected to?” she stated.
Nabulsi, whose film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2023, expressed that The Teacher offers a deeper human context to the ongoing situation in Palestine, especially as “Israel”’s actions in Gaza intensify.
Born and raised in the UK, Nabulsi’s first visit to Palestine a decade ago profoundly impacted her perspective, as she witnessed firsthand the injustice and discrimination faced by Palestinians. This experience spurred her to use storytelling as a way to process and respond to the issues she encountered.
Filming in the occupied West Bank proved emotionally and logistically challenging. Nabulsi shared that the realities of filming in such a context, alongside a cast and crew deeply affected by these experiences, created an emotional toll.
The film addresses issues such as settler violence, home demolitions, and the mistreatment of children in military courts, with Nabulsi drawing inspiration from real-life conversations and her observations. Through The Teacher, Nabulsi hopes to inspire global empathy for Palestinians and garner support for their struggle for freedom.
source/content: al24news.com (headline edited)
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BRITISH / PALESTINIAN