Limelight: Flowers from Palestine By Lubna Abdel-Aziz It was the worst of times! The year was 1948! The place was Deir Yassin! The time was the start of a war. That war is still raging and ranting mercilessly, and unrelentingly, engulfing the whole of the Middle East, may be the whole of the Muslim world. The rest of the world watches, idly, silently. All wars are shameful acts by humans against humanity, The Israeli- Palestinian war is one of the most shameful. This war is the framework of the just released film Miral, directed by renowned American artist and film director Julian Schnabel. The film is based on the autobiographical novel by Palestinian/Italian journalist, Rula Jebreal. The year 1948, marked the heinous slaughter of the innocent by Israeli forces- the notorious massacre at Deir Yassin. The date also marks the establishment of the Jewish state by the United Nations, creating havoc and ruin in the region ever since. It was not only the massacre of a whole town, it was the massacre of faith, hope, and charity, in the Middle East. The film Miral, released 3 December, premiered in September at the Venice Film Festival and was screened at the Toronto Film Festival, to general critical acclaim. The cast is certainly impressive, led by the likes of Vanessa Redgrave and Willem Dafoe. On hand is a long list of Arab actors including Hiam Abbas and Omar Metwalli. For the title role, Schnabel chose Indian born actress Frieda Pinto of Slumdog Millionaire fame. With a little effort, Schnabel may have indeed found a Palestinian, or at least an Arab actress to fill that role. Nonetheless, Pinto's charm and talent, as well as her remarkable resemblance to the author are indeed an asset to the production. Rula's autobiographical novel, depicts her childhood and adolescence in Jerusalem. Daughter of an imam, a Muslim religious leader, and a manic-depressive mother, Miral was brought up in an orphanage in East Jerusalem, "Dar Al-Tifl", run by Hind Al-Husseini, a Palestinian woman who comes across 55 orphaned children following the Israeli massacre of the town of Deir Yassin, outside Jerusalem. Hind decides to take the children home to give them food and shelter. Within six months the number of homeless orphans grows to almost 2,000. Thus was established the Dar Al-Tifl Institute of Jerusalem. In 1978, at age five Miral is taken to the orphanage by her father, after her mother's untimely death. Brought up within the safety and security of the orphanage's walls, Miral is totally oblivious to the struggle and strife that occur outside the orphanage. At age 17 Miral is assigned to teach at a refugee camp where she comes face to face with the unbearable reality of her people's suffering, and their hopeless struggle for sovereignty and independence. When she becomes emotionally involved with a young political activist, Hani, she finds herself torn between two conflicting desires. Should she join the bloody fight like Hani, or should she follow Mama Hind's belief that only education and understanding can achieve peace. Born in Haifa, Israel in 1973, Jebreal moved to Italy to study at the University of Bologna, under a special scholarship. After her graduation Jebreal worked in Italy as a journalist and a TV anchor, since 2000. She is the recipient of several awards for her work, which revealed her strong views about controversial issues, and her daring and independent spirit. The title of her film Miral, is inspired by the name of a flaming red flower, that grows wildly and lines up the roads of Jerusalem. To Jebreal, the flowers symbolise the blood that flows constantly in her beloved land, breeding pain and death. Yet death, like the miral, exists everywhere but is no longer heeded. This is her story; the story of her people, and her beloved Palestine. Director Julian Schnabel fell for the stunning Rula and love defied all obstacles and all differences. Two potential adversaries are now collaborators and partners. At present, Rula is writing her fourth book, a sequel to Miral. Her first novel is Miral (2004) followed by The Bride of Aswan ; and Visa Rejected is her most recent publication. Schnabel himself is a unique artist and shows courage and understanding in his treatment of such a timely subject, which concerns him as much as it does Rula. Schnabel is of Jewish origins. A highly respected painter, his works are part of the collection of several museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of New York, the Whitney Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. Schnabel has directed five films which received four Academy Award nominations. He is also the recipient of a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA (British Film Award) a Cesar (French Film Award) and a Palme d'Or, (Cannes Film Festival Award). Rula has strong views about achieving peace in the region. Mama Hind's words still ring in her ears, since her days at the orphanage. Peace can only be achieved through diplomacy. Death and disaster must be stopped. Diplomacy alone can obliterate "the violence you breathe in the air everyday", in her beloved homeland. She believes in the apparent as well as the hidden strength of women. "Little girls are the main victims of any conflict". If men cannot achieve peace with diplomacy, send the women. "If a society wants to be modern and democratic, do it through women" Jebreal and Schnabel, two people from totally different worlds, potential adversaries, are now romantically involved. With her books selling briskly, her movie's warm reception, and her pictures filling the pages of such magazines as Vogue, Rula is sitting on top of the world. With Schnabel and Jebreal finding a common ground for affection and understanding, perhaps there is hope after all for the cauldron we call the Middle East. Until such time and despite the book and the movie Miral, this does remain "the worst of times". My subject is war, and the pity of War, The Poetry is in the pity. -- William Owen (1893-1918)
