“The Time That Remains” was screened at the Michael Berry Amphitheater at HFCC on November 9. A movie written and directed by Elia Suleiman, the film was inspired and dedicated to his parents using his mother’s letters to relatives and his father’s diaries as the core for his screenplay. Suleiman portrays himself in the film.
The story of Suleiman begins with his family in 1948 in Nazareth with Israel just taking control and wreaking havoc to the city’s residents. Suleiman’s portrayal of his parents at this time shows them as compassionate human beings amidst the stressful period of the first Arab-Israeli war.
I thought this film provided an excellent usage of dark humor when appropriate. The use of this humor mixed in with the violent depictions done by the Israel army to the Palestinians was at its best. I would score this movie a 9 out of 10, not just for its excellent storyline, but also for Suleiman’s silent acting; it really intrigued me that Suleiman didn’t utter a word throughout the whole film. It’s rare to find a film with no dialogue coming from the main character and still produce a memorable feel for what is going.
Suleiman’s whole character is brought out through his movements and facial expressions. An estimated fewer than 1000 words were spoken in this film. I applaud the depiction of the perspective of Palestinians living in Nazareth coping with the Zionist Israel was shown. Suleiman realistically showed us how they coped with what was happening to their surroundings and how they succumbed and resisted the humiliations of life as a defeated minority in their own land. He didn’t portray them as weak civilians crying out like most movies do when a race of people are pushed to be “second rate” citizens in their own country.
The Palestinians were shown pursuing day-to-day rituals as realistically as any person would do. I love how the film doesn’t take a stand on either side of the Arab versus Israeli war spectrum while presenting it clearly and in-depth. This is not a movie filled with anger and hate, but a movie filled with emotion.
“The Time That Remains” differs from similar-themed movies in today’s film industry that are politically charged and infused with bias. This movie is a welcomed change to most viewers. It gives the story without posing a creation of drastic feelings about either side. I would recommend this movie to anyone looking for an interesting and accurate watch.