In the latest from Palestinian filmmaker Annemarie Jacir, Shadi (Saleh Bakri) returns home to his native Nazareth for his sister’s wedding. After living abroad in Europe, Shadi has a different take on life than his more conservative father, Abu Shadi (Mohammad Bakri)—and Abu Shadi doesn’t miss a moment to subtly let his son know his way is the better one.
With these often comic tensions simmering, the pair set out to honor their “wajib” (duty) and personally invite neighbors and friends to the forthcoming nuptials. As the day wears on, however, the gulf between the two men becomes increasingly apparent, and they are forced to face not only each other but also themselves.
Played by real-life father-son duo, the Bakris bring a profound realism to this quietly funny drama, which shows that while life’s forces can change us, some bonds—family, home and identity—remain the same.
