Wajib

Five years after her previous feature, Annemarie Jacir returns with Wajib, a well-crafted family drama that reflects everyday life for Palestinians under Israeli rule.

 Shadi, a Palestinian architect living in Italy, has returned to his hometown, Nazareth, for his sister Amal's wedding. While driving around town with his father, handing out wedding invitations, Shadi is forced once again to relate to the things he dislikes about the town he has left behind: the complicated relationship with his father, the conservative attitudes of the neighbourhood, and the Israeli oppression of the Palestinians.

Wajib (Arabic for 'duty') is a plain-spoken, visually subtle film that pays close attention to detail in its depiction of Shadi and his complex relationship with his father and the land. It is also an excellent showcase for Annemarie Jacir's ability to craft a good script and to work with her actors to portray the characters as nuanced as possible. The leading men, Mohammad and Saleh Bakri, are father and son also in real life, and their characters come across as real people of flesh and blood, as do the many supporting characters.

This text is from the Films from the South Festival, where the film had its Scandinavian Premiere.

"Jacir continues to impress with this poignant, bittersweet comedy of estrangement and identity"
-The Guardian

"There’s a quiet warmth that runs like a current through “Wajib”
-The New York Times