Cinequest - Today They Took My Son
Mother coping with her young son being taken away by a military system. Her helplessness to prevent the cruel and inhumane treatment she knows he is experiencing is more than any mother can bear. Will he be returned and why was he taken in the first place? Based on the true experiences of more than 700 Palestinian children each year.
Interview with Writer/Producer Farah Nabulsi
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I made the film because the story had to be told. And whilst we’re homing in on the experience of one child and his mother, the truth of the matter is that the same story has played out (and continues to play out) for thousands of children and their mothers. I guess you could say it is ethics and decency that compelled me to make it. There is a universal feeling of motherhood and the love any parent has for their child is universal. So if the story could be told in a way that anyone with a child that they love in their life could relate to, then it would hopefully open people’s hearts to understand the pain any mother would go through and any child would go through if they were in the situation regardless of ethnicity or circumstance.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The film combines “gloss” with substance. It is drawn from raw, organic writing, based on painful truth. It is based on 1000’s of true - yet untold - stories, which makes it very authentic. It is a film written and made with passion that touches people at a deep emotional level. And, as emotional creatures, there’s nothing more beautiful than being touched in that way. It also covers the topic of children’s human rights, which frankly everyone should sit up and take note of!
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
The piece was originally much longer and not written for film. It was a personal writing as a form of self-therapy the more I begun to understand the situation for these children and their families. Then it was edited with the idea of making an audio piece, but finally when I decided to turn it into a short film, we cut away at it even more to what it is today.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
As a short film, it had to have the type of punch that would leave people changed in some way. And at screenings so far, including at Film Festivals, that’s the reaction I’m seeing. People leave crying, angry, more informed, distraught or all of the above! They’ve left wanting to learn more and these are the exact reasons why I wanted to make the film – to leave people more enlightened, even if it is paradoxically in a dark or depressing way. Another great reaction is how everyone really loves Khalid (the “son” played by Elias Naoum). They fall in love with him straight away and that was really important because people needed to feel for him and his mother from the get-go, given the short length of the film. The film has also received endorsements from notable film makers to politicians, academics and others, including Noam Chomsky, Hanan Ashrawi, John Pilger, Sara Roy, Sarah Leah Whitson and Jonathan Cook.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
It has confirmed that if you speak to people’s hearts their minds open, but also that the topic does not need to be controversial or taboo and that people are willing to engage in discussion regarding Palestine/Israel more openly and honestly than in the past.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
For more people to be made aware of the situation.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Journalists and distributors.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Exactly what is happening….for people to learn about what is going on, want to know more and ultimately hopefully galvanize action.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about the film?
Israel is the only country in the world that processes children through a military detention system that by its very nature does not offer the necessary child human rights protections. Why on earth are children being taken by and processed through a MILITARY detention system?
Would you like to add anything else?
Yes – These are not Israeli children that are being processed through this system, it is Palestinian children who are!
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Writer & producer, Farah Nabulsi is working on her next 2 shorts, “I’m Not An Animal” and “The Wall”.
Interview: February 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Today They Took My Son
Mother coping with her young son being taken away by a military system. Her helplessness to prevent the cruel and inhumane treatment she knows he is experiencing is more than any mother can bear. Will he be returned and why was he taken in the first place? Based on the true experiences of more than 700 Palestinian children each year.
Length: 7 mins 45 secs
Director: Pierre Dawalibi
Producer: Farah Nabulsi
Writer: Farah Nabulsi
About the writer, director and producer:
Writer and Producer: Farah Nabulsi – Daughter of Palestinians. Born and raised in London UK. Ex-Investment banker and business owner turned Palestinian Human Rights film writer and producer. Re-humanizing, giving a voice to the silenced and true context of Israeli Occupation of Palestine.
Director: Pierre Dawalibi – Lebanese, born and raised. Studied Theatre Arts and Film Directing. An activists at heart. Directing experience covers fiction, reality, TV commercials, corporate videos, TV shows and documentaries.
Key cast: Elias Naoum and Mira Sidawi (Voice narration, Farah Nabulsi).
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
Funders: Distributors and Journalists
Made in association with: Native Liberty Productions
Where can I see it in the next month?:
Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose California