(the Globe and Mail) TIFF 2021: “Farha" Review
An unflinching, gut-wrenching look at displacement and war in 1948 Palestine, Farha
is a stunning feature film debut from Jordanian director Darin J. Sallam. Sallam has
infused her first feature with heart, longing and beauty all while tracing the history of
Nakba, the mass displacement of Palestinians after the Second World War. Fourteenyear-
old Farha had initially set her hopes on attending school; once Israeli bombs start
falling in her village, that dream is quickly engulfed by tragedy as the only world she’s
ever known turns to rubble. Alone in her cellar, waiting for signs of life from her
father, Farha can only watch in horror as her home, her people and her future are
destroyed. Best known for her award-winning shorts, Sallam extends her storytelling
here to great effect, making it clear she is a talent to watch.
TIFF 2021 schedule: Sept. 18, 1 p.m., digital Lightbox