Bel Falastini
Fall Grants 2024 - Production Stage
Obada Jarbi / Short Documentary / Jordan, Qatar / 15 min / Original Language: Arabic, English / Interests: History, Biography
Synopsis
Jamil Atrash was born in a refugee camp in the 1950s. Throughout his life, he built a successful career and started a family while travelling the world, seeking a sense of home he never truly felt. 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 US, and worked in 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 lives, Jamil feels closer to his dream of seeing Palestine. The film explores the concept of refuge beyond 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 good living standard and raised well-educated children but still felt something was missing.
Credits
- Director
- Obada Jarbi
- Screenwriter
- Obada Jarbi
- Producer
- Dana J. Atrach
About the Director
A Jordanian resident of Qatar, Obada holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication. He made his directorial debut with the documentary ‘Addicted to Alienation’ in 2016, 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. This film was created through the DFI Documentary Lab. His latest project, ‘Okht Rjal’, is a piece that he considers to represent his vision and style best.