Archive of films Inheritance / Héritage

France / Israel / Turkey / Palestine
2012, 88 min

Section: Horizons
Year: 2013

Although it looks like war, a large Arab family gathers in a village situated near the Israeli-Lebanese border for the wedding of the eldest grandchild Abu Majda. For some time now, the heterogeneous interests of individual family members have been disrupting the family’s solidarity – especially the bride’s younger sister, who refuses to marry the man chosen for her. In the past, they had always listened to their patriarchs.


Synopsis

As a conflict between Israel and Lebanon looms, the members of an extended Palestinian family meet for the wedding of the patriarch’s oldest granddaughter. The festivities are ruined not only by air-raid sirens, but also by hints of discord among the wedding party. The time has passed when everyone observed the opinions and decisions of the recognized head of the family, the patriarch grandfather. The differences between his children (who still respect Muslim traditions) and their adult offspring (who observe traditions only as a formality) are beginning to show. The girls in particular are increasingly pushing for emancipation, which in Hajar leads to open rebellion. Hiam Abbass, an actress who has appeared in many important pictures, is intimately familiar with the environment depicted in her film. She succeeds not only in presenting living portraits of the various members of a Palestinian family, but also manages to masterfully pull their personal stories together. The film, which was shown at last year’s festival in Venice, also allows the audience feel what it’s like to live under the constant threat of war. The director plays the wife of the old patriarch.

About the director

Hiam Abbass

Hiam Abbass (b. 1960, Nazareth, Israel), an actress and director from a Palestinian Muslim family, has been living in Paris since the early 1990s. She has appeared in nearly 60 films directed by European, Asian and American directors, including Red Satin (Satin rouge, 2002), The Syrian Bride (Ha-kala ha-surit, 2004), Lemon Tree (Etz limon, 2008), The Limits of Control (2008), and Persécution (2009). She also acted as linguistic and acting advisor on Steven Spielberg’s Munich (2005). In 2012, she was a jury member for the main competition at Cannes. After previously directing two short films – Bread (Le pain, 2001) and The Eternal Dance (La danse éternelle, 2004) – she made her feature film debut with Inheritance (2012).

Contacts

Playtime
5 rue Nicolas Flamel, 75004, Paris
France
Tel: +33 153 103 399
Fax: +33 153 103 398
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.filmsdistribution.com

About the film

Color, DCP

Section: Horizons
   
Director: Hiam Abbass
Screenplay: Hiam Abbass, Ala Hlehel
Dir. of Photography: Antoine Heberlé
Music: Loik Dury
Editor: Guy Lecorne
Producer: Nicolas Blanc, Arik Bernstein, David Silber, Ender Sevim, Faruk Özerten
Production: AGAT Films & cie, Alma Films, Depo Film
Cast: Hafsia Herzi, Hiam Abbass, Yussef Abu Warda
Contact: Playtime

Guests

Pamela Leu

Sales Agent

YouTube

© 2024 FILM SERVIS FESTIVAL KARLOVY VARY, a.s. [email protected] +420 221 411 011 All contacts

AccommodationsAccommodations Festival Pass, tickets, reservationsFestival Pass, tickets
HistoryHistory ContactsContacts
Archive of filmsArchive of films KVIFF TalksKVIFF Talks
Industry Days Programme 2021Industry Days Programme KVIFF Eastern PromisesKVIFF Eastern Promises
VideogalleryVideogallery PhotogalleryPhotogallery
ContactsContacts Posters of the 57th KV IFFPosters of the 57th KV IFF
HistoryHistory Festival GuideFestival Guide