For Hiam Abbass, starring in films like Annemarie Jacir's "Palestine 36" is more than an artistic choice - it's a duty. The Palestinian actor made this statement during an in-depth career talk alongside Italian actor Valelria Golino at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, where she discussed her experiences working on the historical epic.
Abbass emphasized that being part of projects like "Palestine 36," which chronicles the history of Palestine every day and is threatened to be erased and forgotten, feels like a responsibility. This sentiment was echoed in another recent project, Golino's directorial debut "Bye Bye Tiberias," which explores Abbass' life following her departure from Palestine.
Both films for Abbass are almost like a visit into the history she inherited, according to the actor. The sprawling, complex set built by Jacir and her team was intended to shoot in Palestine, but production was halted when war broke out on October 7, 2023, and eventually relocated to Jordan due to safety concerns.
Abbass recalled the logistical nightmare of trying to fly from Paris to Jordan for the shoot, only to find it not possible. "I fought to be on set," she said, describing it as a victory to finally make the movie. This experience is more than an artistic choice, but rather how one survives in the face of adversity.
Abbass also discussed her directorial career, which began with the short film "Le Pain" in 2001. Her 2012 debut, "Inheritance," played at Venice, and she has since directed for television with "Ramy." For Abbass, directing came about by necessity, as she wanted to give time to motherhood and express herself on screen.
To this day, Abbass has only directed one feature film. She doesn't have future plans for a sophomore effort, citing that acting didn't give her the possibility of writing and creating. However, she does have a few stories lined up, but isn't in a rush.
Abbass emphasized that being part of projects like "Palestine 36," which chronicles the history of Palestine every day and is threatened to be erased and forgotten, feels like a responsibility. This sentiment was echoed in another recent project, Golino's directorial debut "Bye Bye Tiberias," which explores Abbass' life following her departure from Palestine.
Both films for Abbass are almost like a visit into the history she inherited, according to the actor. The sprawling, complex set built by Jacir and her team was intended to shoot in Palestine, but production was halted when war broke out on October 7, 2023, and eventually relocated to Jordan due to safety concerns.
Abbass recalled the logistical nightmare of trying to fly from Paris to Jordan for the shoot, only to find it not possible. "I fought to be on set," she said, describing it as a victory to finally make the movie. This experience is more than an artistic choice, but rather how one survives in the face of adversity.
Abbass also discussed her directorial career, which began with the short film "Le Pain" in 2001. Her 2012 debut, "Inheritance," played at Venice, and she has since directed for television with "Ramy." For Abbass, directing came about by necessity, as she wanted to give time to motherhood and express herself on screen.
To this day, Abbass has only directed one feature film. She doesn't have future plans for a sophomore effort, citing that acting didn't give her the possibility of writing and creating. However, she does have a few stories lined up, but isn't in a rush.
so Hiam Abbas is doing this whole "Palestine 36" thing because it's her duty... how noble 
and also kinda cool that she got to experience the historical epic in her hometown before it was even threatened with erasure (lol who needs script rewrites when you can just move production to Jordan because of war?). anyway, I'm sure it was super fun navigating the logistical nightmare of flying from Paris to Jordan only to find out you're not allowed on set 
. guess that's what happens when you're a Hollywood star trying to make art amidst chaos. and I love how she's all like "acting is my duty" while secretly wanting to direct her own thing, but doesn't have the time because of motherhood 
I feel so bad for Hiam Abbass 
, you know? She's been through so much with the Palestine thing 
and it's like, wow 
how can she not be affected by all that drama 
. But at the same time, I'm like 
, isn't acting her way to process everything? You feel me? 
sounds like a total nightmare 
! Safety first, yaaas 
. But Hiam's all about it 
, I love that determination 
. She's like the ultimate survivor 
. And can we talk about her directing skills? 
, especially in Hollywood 
. So here's to Hiam Abbass 
and all the women doing their thang 
. Keep slaying 
!
. What if there's more to her acting career than meets the eye? Like, what if the film industry is trying to brainwash us with 'artistic' narratives that are actually hiding some truth? 
. I'm not saying she's hiding something, but you can never be too sure when it comes to Hollywood 
. I mean, can you even imagine trying to film in Palestine and then having your whole production shut down? It's like, her work is literally being used as a way to raise awareness about the situation on the ground. And now she has these amazing experiences and stories to draw from, but at what cost? 
I love that she's still pushing forward with her craft though, even if it means being a one-woman show sometimes 
it's acting for god's sake! 
maybe it's admirable that she's using her platform to share her experiences, even if it means being part of projects that could be seen as "challenging" for some audiences 
just saw this interview with Hiam Abbass and I'm totally fascinated by her perspective on making art about Palestine 
especially when it comes to films that try to capture the daily life and history of the region 
. And I love that she was able to push through the logistics and get on set, it's literally a testament to her strength and determination 
Let's keep giving more platforms to artists like Hiam Abbass who are breaking barriers and pushing boundaries 
I'm loving how Hiam Abbass is using her platform to share her story and experiences on screen. It's so inspiring to see someone taking control of their narrative and not just going through the motions. The fact that she's doing it for projects like "Palestine 36" which are tackling some really heavy topics, but also celebrating the beauty of Palestinian culture is amazing 
. And can we talk about how fierce she is? From fighting to get on set during wartime to being a single mom who pursued her passion for directing, Hiam Abbass is literally a superhero 
. Bring on those stories she's got lined up!
️. You gotta fight for what you want, just like she did when she was trying to get to set. It's not always easy, but it's worth it in the end. And I think that's what it means to be responsible, too - taking care of yourself and your work, even when things seem impossible. She also said something about needing time to express herself, like motherhood was a big part of that... and I think that's true for all of us, whether we have kids or not. We all need space to grow and be ourselves 
.
. I mean, can you imagine having to relocate your set due to war and safety concerns? 
Talk about a logistical nightmare! 
.
I'm obsessed with Hiam Abbass right now! Her statement about being part of projects like "Palestine 36" feels so true 
. And can we talk about how dedicated she is? 
. I wish she would make more films though, she's got some great stories lined up... Fingers crossed she'll come back to feature filmmaking soon 
She's been acting since 2001, but directing came later as a way to balance motherhood and self-expression. I'd love to see more of her feature films, though - maybe someday she'll return to directing? 