Film Screening: Ana Falastini

SFU Downtown Vancouver Campus | Harbour Centre

November 13

“If the olive trees knew the hands that planted them, their oil would become tears.” - Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish

On November 13, CCMS hosted a screening of the powerful documentary “Where Olive Trees Weep” about the suffering of Palestinians under 75 years of Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. Their universally human stories speak of intergenerational pain, trauma and resilience. Sharing stories of suffering and resilience through documentary is a powerful means of change in the persuit of justice and we hope that they touch your heart, stir compassion and understanding, and give rise to a pursuit for justice. For without justice, peace remains an empty slogan.

“Where Olive Trees Weep offers a searing window into the struggles and resilience of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation. It explores themes of loss, trauma, and the quest for justice. We follow, among others, Palestinian journalist and therapist Ashira Darwish, grassroots activist Ahed Tamimi, and Israeli journalist Amira Hass. We witness Dr. Gabor Maté offering trauma-healing work for a group of women who have been tortured in Israeli prisons. Ancient landscapes bear deep scars, having witnessed the brutal reality of ancestral land confiscation, expulsions, imprisonment, home demolitions, water deprivation, and denial of basic human rights. Yet, through the veil of oppression, we catch a glimpse of resilience-deep roots that have carried the Palestinian people through decades of darkness and shattered lives. This emotional journey bares the humanity of the oppressed while grappling with the question: what makes the oppressor so ruthlessly blind to its own cruelty?” (IMDB)

The documentary was followed with a panel discussion with Ashira Darwish and Dr. Gabor Mate.