The Representation of the Right of Return in the Palestinian Cinema
(Jacir's Film Salt of This Sea)
Abstract
The Cinema is an important cultural tool that is used by the Palestinian filmmakers in order to show the suffering of the Palestinian refugees and demand the right of return. This study discussed " Salt of this Sea ", a movie by the Palestinian director Annenarie Jacir, with the aim to show how the question of refugees, particularly their right to return to their homeland has been represented and confirmed through the cinematic discourse. It is a descriptive analytical study. It has concluded that "Salt of this Sea" is a unique fiction that combines art, history, and politics since it tells a human story that documents the experience of the Palestinian refuge and shows many national and historical symbols that are related to the Palestinian identity. Remarkably, the film has reflected the complexity of the refugees' issue and it has depicted the weakness of the Palestinian authority and its failure to solve this crisis.. Moreover, this film has portrayed the state of frustration felt by the Palestinians due to the Israeli restrictions, which make them look at the question of the right to return pessimistically. It is noteworthy that this film has represented different images of the Israeli "other". It shows aggressive soldiers insulting the Palestinians, and it gives a voice to the Israelis who support peace and coexistence with the Palestinians. The director has successfully employed music, colors, and other audio-visual technics to affirm the right of Palestinians to return home. This film demonstrates the Palestinian cinema aesthetics and its power to represent the national issues.
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