The Palestinian Left and Its Decline: Loyal Opposition

Abstract

describe their challenges and successes in curating a program of short films in the UK as part of the seventieth anniversary of the Nakba in collaboration with the Sheffield Palestine Cultural Exchange, a cultural organization. They discuss their success in attracting a wider audience by programming around the universal theme of love, which allowed for reflection on the different types of love that connect to the usurpation of Palestinian land, the history of ethnic cleansing, and life under occupation. Perhaps it is unfortunate that facts and the systemic racism supporting Israeli settler-colonial occupation are not always enough to command the attention of mainstream audiences, but that is precisely why accessible books like this are so valuable. It is the perfect companion for a focused Palestine-themed film screening, series, or festival, where the aim is not only to reach the base of supporters in celebration of Palestinian and Arab cinema but to educate a wider audience about the ongoing struggles faced by Palestinians as demonstrated through their films. The authors conclude by optimistically observing that the achievements of Palestinian cinema “are enduring and signal a growing international sympathy” for the Palestinian cause (p. 54), despite the intensified precarity for Palestinian cinema and solidarity activism. While the histories of this subject are more deeply analyzed elsewhere, the authors provide an encounter that invites research, collaboration, and involvement, modeling the activity of building film culture as a contemporary means of advancing justice for Palestine.