I was expecting an all out film about war but was pleasantly surprised. The story based around a central character Farha. A typical teenager to start with who than has to survive an uncertain situation. Watching the film I could sense her desperation and frustration. It was well written and executed. As a viewer i felt everything from hope, sadness and relief for farha. The young actress did a brilliant job. One particular scene with a crying baby thats just out of reach was done well and very hard to forget. Overall it was captivating to watch such a life changing horrific event from the eyes of a young girl through a crack in an old door. Inspired by true events I feel the film was subtle yet still managed to capture the terrors of nakba.

... when your hands could reach the sky, when a future had been opened and your dreams had been awoken, with a chance to learn and teach, explore, investigate and seek, helping barriers erode, helping others to decode; but instead of unlocked doors, you're imprisoned by a war, observe the crimes of an invasion, through portals locked without salvation, inhumanity to man, to children, to families, by man, against the innocent civilians, who still suffer in their millions.

An outstanding performance by Karam Taher brings to life the torment, torture and tyranny endured during times of upheaval post WWII.

The tale of Farha is not only a tale of the destruction of Palestinian life caused by the Nakba. It is a sensitive and beautiful portrait of traditional village life and the dreams of a young girl who desires an education beyond that provided to girls by the village Sheikh as well as a destiny beyond marriage. No one should miss this portrait of Palestine in 1948.

Although the film begins at a time of turmoil, the traditional harvest by the women of the village is shown while Farha reads a book. Her father, as mayor, is asked to join the fighters but hesitates. A traditional betrothal is shown, and the viewer becomes aware of Farha's indifference to a marriage arrangement and her own ambition to study at a school in the city. It is against this backdrop that the violence and destruction of the Nakba begins to unfold.

The inclusion of traditional harvest and betrothal songs are beautiful details and offer a counterpoint to the horror of the events of 1948.