Bel Falastini
Fall Grants 2024 - Production Stage
Obada Jarbi / Short Documentary / Qatar / 15 min / Original Language: Arabic / Interests: Documentary
Synopsis
“Jamil Atrash was born in a refugee camp in the 1950s. Over the course of his life, he built a successful career and started a family while travelling the world, seeking a sense of home he never truly found. After retiring from his career as a civil engineer, he reflects on his memories and shares his story from the perspective of a Palestinian refugee. Despite his achievements, Jamil never managed to build a home of his own—not due to financial constraints, but because he never felt he belonged anywhere. Born in Lebanon, immigrated to the United States, and having worked across the Middle East, Jamil always felt like a foreigner, far from his hometown of Akka, Palestine. Now, having bought a house in Cyprus, where most of his extended family resides, Jamil feels closer to his dream of seeing Palestine.
The film explores the concept of refuge beyond material poverty, delving into the emotions and feelings associated with displacement. It begins with Jamil’s 70th birthday and looks back at his life, highlighting the struggles of a retired Palestinian refugee who achieved a high standard of living and raised well-educated children, yet always felt something was missing.”
Credits
- Director
- Odaba Jarbi
- Screenwriter
- Odaba Jarbi
- Producer
- Dana J. Atrach
About the Director
Obada Jarbi is a Jordanian filmmaker residing in Qatar who holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication. He made his directorial debut in 2016 with the documentary ‘Addicted to Alienation’, which began as a university project. His second short film, ‘The Fishermen’ (2017), marked his first project beyond the university setting and was selected for various film festivals. The film was developed through the Doha Film Institute (DFI) Documentary Lab. Obada’s latest project, ‘Okht Rjal’, is a work he considers to best reflect his vision and style.