‘All That’s Left Of You’: Sundance Review

Dir/scr: Cherien Dabis. Germany/Cyprus. 2025. 145mins

That you just can’t perceive the current with out understanding the previous is the guiding philosophy of Cherien Dabis’ bold household saga All That’s Left Of You. Dabis illuminates many years of Palestinian historical past by the story of a single household marked by exile, loss and trauma. Missing nuance in its early levels, it matures right into a extra thought-about, shifting story that successfully blends the non-public and the political. The well timed material and emotional affect ought to tempt worldwide arthouse distributors following its Sundance Premieres bow.

Illuminates many years of Palestinian historical past by the story of a single household

Palestinian-American Dabis beforehand directed Amreeka (2009) and Might In The Summer time (2013) and has labored extensively in American tv (Empire, The Sinner, Ozark and so forth), receiving an Emmy nomination for guiding an episode of Solely Murders In The Constructing. That have exhibits right here, in her assured dealing with of tempo, craft and an intricate narrative. Set to movie in Jaffa, Dabis needed to withdraw two weeks into pre-production when the October 2023 assaults occurred. Capturing was moved to Cyprus, Greece and Jordan, and the result’s a handsomely mounted movie.

Dabis begins the household historical past in 1988 as teenager Noor (Muhammad Abed Elrahman) is caught up within the occupied West Financial institution protests in opposition to Israeli troopers. We then see into the long run as his aged mom Hanan (performed by Dabis) stares immediately into the digital camera and tells each an unseen character and the viewers that they’ll solely comprehend Noor’s life by understanding the story of his grandfather, Sharif. The story then shifts to 1948, when the younger Sharif (Adam Bakri) is surrounded by the scent of oranges from the groves in his household house at Jaffa. The creation of the State Of Israel on Palestine land sends his spouse and kids into exile, however Sharif stays till the Israeli authorities arrive to assert his home and occupy his land. Sharif is arrested, imprisoned and starved, fuelling his resentment of the Israelis.

In 1978, the older Sharif (Mohammad Bakri) lives along with his son Salim (Saleh Bakri), Salim’s spouse and their kids, together with his younger grandson Noor (then performed by Sanad Alkabareti). Tv information stories on President Carter’s makes an attempt to carry peace to the Center East, whereas each day life remains to be a routine of humiliation and repression. Salim is drained of hope and satisfaction, and Noor is rising into an offended younger man. 

The early levels of All That’s Left Of You really feel blunt and devoid of subtlety. On a regular basis conversations flip into heartfelt speeches and Israeli characters are solely seen carrying weapons, barking orders and treating the Palestinians as lower than human. Historical past consistently repeats as lives unfold on the mercy of checkpoints, curfews and arbitrary guidelines. Injustice snowballs down the generations.

When Dabis circles again to 1988 and divulges the destiny of Noor, it turns into a extra considerate and compelling movie. Surprising developments create a scenario demanding tough selections and the likelihood that nothing in life is totally reduce and dried. What had appeared a really black and white narrative begins to seek out fascinating shades of gray, even reaching for some sense of therapeutic. Dabis cleverly brings all the things full circle in a swish, warmhearted finale that renders the movie ever extra endearing.

Inside a well-chosen ensemble, Salah Alden Mai because the younger Salim and Sanad Alkabaretri because the younger Noor seize all of the vitality, cheek and very important spark of those boys. Members of the Bakri performing dynasty are additionally completely solid, with Saleh Bakri conveying the weary anguish of Salim’s wrestle to transcend the disgrace and struggling visited upon him.