Farha – REVIEW
Image: Karam Taher in Farha. Image: film still
By MARTIN FABINYI
The opening night film of this year’s Palestinian Film Festival is Farha, a coming-of-age story set in 1948, at the height of the genocidal invasion of Palestine.
Inspired by true events, it is the debut feature from Jordanian filmmaker Darin J. Sallam, and tells the story of 14-year-old Farha whose dream to attend school in the city is trashed by the sudden attack on her village.
It’s a claustrophobic filmic experience, as Farha can only watch the murder of her father and other villagers from inside the bolthole where her father has safely stowed her. Watching these events forces her to leave her childhood behind.
The coda tells us that Farha escapes to study abroad, bringing a dash of hope from the ashes of what is known as “The Catastrophe”.
A sad and penetrating story about loss, dispossession and survival, Fahra is a poignant and remarkable first feature from a filmmaker on the rise.
November 2, 6:30pm, Dendy Newtown, 261 King St, Newtown
November 7, 7pm, Bryan Brown Theatre, Cnr Rickard and Chapel Rds, Bankstown
palestinianfilmfestival.com.au
