# ‘Succession’ Star Hiam Abbas on Palestine, Censorship, and 90 Years of Resistance Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smbR90q-cFE Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/smbR90q-cFE Generated: 2025-10-10T13:33:46.666+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview Palestinian filmmaker Annemarie Jacir discusses the challenges of creating her Oscar-nominated film "It Must Be Heaven," which explores the ongoing Palestinian struggle and the historical context of the British Mandate and the 1936 revolt, emphasizing the importance of telling Palestinian stories to counter dominant narratives and the emotional toll of confronting inherited trauma. **Key Points:** - The film discussed is "It Must Be Heaven," Palestine's official submission to the Oscars, starring Palestinian actor Hiam Abbass and co-starring Liam Cunningham. - Jacir notes that the Palestinian struggle, mass displacement, and occupation did not start in 1948 but have roots extending back to the British Mandate period (1921-1939), including the 1936 Great Revolt. - The film's core theme is the inherited trauma of Palestinians, where the ongoing suffering (like that in Gaza) resonates with historical events, making the story feel constantly current. - Jacir highlights that the film was shot in various locations, including Bethlehem and Calquilya, but filming was interrupted when the crew and actors, including the lead, had to evacuate due to events following October 7th. - Jacir points out a significant disconnect in how the UK teaches history, omitting the British role in the Palestinian experience, such as the collective punishment and military occupation practices. - The director hopes the film serves as a way for audiences to connect emotionally with Palestinian stories and understand the depth of their struggle beyond political talking points. ![Screenshot at 00:36: Palestinian refugees, including women and children, sit huddled outdoors, illustrating the historical displacement and suffering central to the film's narrative context.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/smbR90q-cFE/00-00-36.png) **Context:** The video features an interview with Palestinian writer/director Annemarie Jacir, hosted by Mehdi Hasan, discussing her film "It Must Be Heaven," which was Palestine's official submission for the Academy Awards. The conversation focuses on the film's themes of historical struggle, displacement, and the difficulty of telling Palestinian stories amidst ongoing conflict, referencing the impact of the British Mandate era (1921-1939) and the 1936 Great Revolt. ## Detailed Analysis Mehdi Hasan interviews director Annemarie Jacir about her Oscar-nominated film, "It Must Be Heaven," which explores the Palestinian struggle against the backdrop of historical events dating back to the British Mandate (1921-1939) and the 1936 Great Revolt, arguing that the current situation did not begin in 1948. Jacir explains that the film shows the beautiful, thriving life in Palestine before the Nakba, contrasting it with the ongoing suffering and occupation, which she feels is an inherited trauma for Palestinians. She notes the film's production was disrupted by events following October 7th, requiring the evacuation of the cast and crew, including lead actress Hiam Abbass, from filming locations like Bethlehem and Calquilya. Jacir criticizes the British education system for failing to teach its role in the conflict, contrasting the beautiful imagery in the film with the reality of collective punishment and military occupation. She states the film's goal is not to offer political solutions but to foster empathy by sharing the voices and experiences of Palestinians, which she believes is essential for understanding the present reality. ### Film Context and Reception - "It Must Be Heaven" is Palestine's Oscar submission, starring Hiam Abbass and Jeremy Irons; it received a 20-minute ovation at TIFF. - The film focuses on the early stages of Palestinian trauma, specifically the period of the British Mandate and the 1936 Revolt. ### Historical Narrative - Jacir asserts the Palestinian struggle did not begin in 1948 but in 1921 with the British Mandate; she criticizes British schools for omitting their role in the conflict. - She highlights scenes depicting the destruction of villages, collective punishment, and the British military occupation's impact. ### Filmmaking Challenges - Production faced significant disruption due to events post-October 7th, forcing the evacuation of the crew and actors from locations like Bethlehem and Calquilya. - Jacir notes the difficulty of balancing the portrayal of past beauty with present suffering, but feels this duality is crucial for the audience. ### Audience Impact and Hope - Jacir hopes the film helps audiences understand the present situation by connecting with the historical context and the humanity of the Palestinian people. - She emphasizes that the struggle is ongoing, and the film aims to ensure their voices continue to be heard. ![Screenshot at 00:01: Host Mehdi Hasan introducing the discussion segment on Zeteo.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/smbR90q-cFE/00-00-01.png) ![Screenshot at 00:05: Clip showing a scene from "It Must Be Heaven" depicting displaced Palestinians sitting on the ground under surveillance.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/smbR90q-cFE/00-00-05.png) ![Screenshot at 00:49: Montage clip showing various actors from the film, including Jeremy Irons and Saleh Bakri.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/smbR90q-cFE/00-00-49.png) ![Screenshot at 01:03: Split screen interview featuring host Mehdi Hasan with actresses Hiam Abbass and Annemarie Jacir \(who appears remotely\).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/smbR90q-cFE/00-01-03.png) ![Screenshot at 01:17: Footage inside a theater showing the cast receiving a standing ovation at the Toronto International Film Festival \(TIFF\).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/smbR90q-cFE/00-01-17.png) ![Screenshot at 01:35: Annemarie Jacir \(Director, Palestine 36\) speaking remotely during the interview.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/smbR90q-cFE/00-01-35.png) ![Screenshot at 03:00: Mehdi Hasan asking Hiam Abbass about making the film, noting it was her most difficult project.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/smbR90q-cFE/00-03-00.png) ![Screenshot at 04:48: Mehdi Hasan closing segment with a graphic of the White House behind him, encouraging viewers to subscribe to Zeteo.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/smbR90q-cFE/00-04-48.png) ![Screenshot at 10:04: Mehdi Hasan questioning the guests about the longevity of the conflict and the impact of the film.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/smbR90q-cFE/00-10-04.png) ![Screenshot at 15:55: Annemarie Jacir discussing how the film is an ensemble piece about the shared experience of suffering and the need for Palestinians to tell their own stories.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/smbR90q-cFE/00-15-55.png)