Director: Annemarie Jacir
Cast: Mahmoud Asfa, Ruba Blal, Saleh Bakri, Anas Algaralleh, Ali Elayan, Ruba Shamshoum,
Running time: 96 minutes
Synopsis: In 1967 in a Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan, a young boy named Tarek (Asfa) awaits the arrival of his father. When his father fails to turn up at the camp, Tarek decides to go searching for him.
WHEN I SAW YOU reveals something shocking and outrageous to western audiences, and that’s the fact that Palestinians aren’t always involved in conflict in the middle-east. Although such issues are referenced throughout and form the backbone of this pre-Jordan-Palestianian Civil War feature, Annemarie Jacir takes the time to capture the heartbreaking and heart warming moments which expel some myths and present things in a very human fashion. During the early scenes at a refugee camp, we see a man gently drop children onto a pitched tent and the joy in the children’s faces as they slide down. It’s these little moments, and the acknowledgement of western influences in terms of music and clothing, that make this an accessible and important film.
Tarek, played brilliantly by newcomer Asfa, is a young boy who is a contradiction. He excels at maths to the point where he shames and infuriates his teacher, but also can’t read. It makes him a confident and memorable character, but his illiteracy is his one weakness which resonates as that weakness which makes him more vulnerable. Told not to come to school, as his intelligence supposedly distracts the other students, Tarek spends his days with his mother awaiting for their father to show up at the refugee camp or dancing and strutting his way through gorgeous locations.
The cinematography captures the barren and terrifying landscapes, while also finding the beauty as well, making it the perfect structural rhyme for such sequences as detailed earlier. A lone tree, a scorching sunrise, and red flowers poking their heads out from the ground are just many of the symbolic metaphors carefully littered throughout to enhance the message of positivity growing from adversity.
The latter half of the film sees Tarek join a people’s army, where he gradually becomes attracted to their way of life. Jacir does well to not represent a complete change where Tarek finds his calling nor becomes brainwashed, but instead examines exactly what this character is going through while also maintaining his innocence. Although taken with the training and the unshaved men carrying guns, he also creates mini action figures out of bits and bobs from his surroundings. Asfa is a natural in front of the camera. He is a lovable and cheeky rogue to begin with but also navigates the emotional depths he is required to dive into as his character becomes confused and entranced by life around him.
Deliberately paced and focused more on its contemplative messages rather than flat out entertaining, WHEN I SAW YOU still has enough charm and soul to reach people. Like its ambiguous ending, there is no right or wrong and no side taking. This is a very balanced and successful coming of age film, set in a land that deserves more positive exposure.
[usr=4] WHEN I SAW YOU is released in cinemas on 6th June.
