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Cherien Dabis' ALL THAT'S LEFT OF YOU Presented at the 23rd FICM

Fanny García

As part of the 23rd edition of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), Palestinian-American director Cherien Dabis shared the vision behind her film All That 's Left of You at a press conference. In the film, a Palestinian teenager confronts Israeli soldiers at a protest in the West Bank, and his mother recounts the series of events that led to that fateful moment, starting with the forced displacement of her father, his grandfather.

All That's Left of You is a project that explores the memories of Dabis and her family, exile, and Palestinian identity. “In a way, the story of the film has been with me since I was a child,” the filmmaker explained. “I grew up listening to the stories of the survivors.”

The shoot was marked by significant challenges. Production was supposed to take place in Palestine, but in October 2023, the team was forced to flee, leaving them in crisis. “We had to start all over again in another place, without knowing if we would be able to finish the film,” she said.

Finally, the director shared insights about her identity with the audience, explaining that growing up as a Palestinian-American was a nearly schizophrenic experience. Between racism in the United States and the sense of being too American in the Arab world, she began to understand the power of media and the need to tell authentic stories. “There is no forgiveness, but there is relief and perhaps a little inner peace, knowing that, despite everything, we survived and moved forward with those we love,” she said.