© Frida Marzouk / Beall Productions
Lina Soualem’s documentary “Bye Bye Tiberias” offers an emotionally charged and complex portrait of her family’s relationship with their Palestinian roots. Using archival footage, family interviews, reenactments, and personal reflection, the film examines the lasting emotional impact of displacement and the occupation on the Palestinian diaspora.
Original Title: Bye Bye Tibériade
Directed by: Lina Soualem
Year: 2023
Country: Palestine, France, Belgium, Qatar
Length: 82 minutes
Soualem’s mother, actress Hiam Abbass, was in her early twenties when she left her native Palestinian village. She had to leave behind her grandmother, mother, and seven sisters to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. Soualem’s documentary forces Abbass to contemplate what led to her decision and explain to her daughter why she feels disconnected from her Palestinian roots. She reflects on the challenges she faced while following her dreams and the sacrifices she had to make to pursue her passion. Through the documentary, Abbass also attempts to explain the cultural differences between Palestine and France to her daughter, who has grown up in a different world altogether.
The film’s introductory scenes feature video footage from 1992, with Abbass pointing out the several borders in the area. In the footage, a young Soualem points to Lake Tiberias, expressing a desire to visit. The film revisits this poignant moment to further explore Soualem and Abbass’s complex relationship with their homeland. Though born and raised in France, Soualem would spend her summers in Deir Hana, her mother’s native village. For thirty years, Hiam remained reserved about leaving her village for France. The documentary reveals that she has only now opened up, admitting that she has avoided discussing her past because she didn’t want to ‘open the gate to past sorrows’. The images from the archival footage are what Lina calls her ‘memory’s treasure’, and with Palestine still being under constant threat and attack, she is afraid her memories might fade. This grim visual history is interwoven with the powerful words of Abbass. Abbass recites from her own written accounts of the period, giving a deeply personal perspective to the otherwise abstract and distant events. This sequence serves as both a historical recounting and an intimate confrontation with the feeling of loss that is presented throughout the film.
One of the most affecting moments in “Bye Bye Tiberias” involves Abbass reading a heartfelt poem to her own mother. This emotionally charged moment weaves together the experiences of three generations of women, each one marked by the looming shadows of occupation and displacement. It allows the viewer to witness the impact of occupation across multiple generations. Considering Abbass’ mother was just 16 years old when the war initiated by Zionists against the Palestinians broke out, the emotional weight of this moment is palpable. It serves as a stark reminder of the cyclical and generational nature of trauma, causing the three women to grow up in very different circumstances, compelling the viewer to consider the long-term effects of occupation on individuals and families.
Interlaced with these heavier themes, Soualem and Abbass also share personal memories of their formative years and experiences in Palestine. These candid moments serve to humanize the broader political narrative, offering snapshots of a Palestine that once was. They counter prevailing Western narratives that often reduce the Palestinian experience to perpetual conflict and struggle. By incorporating these intimate memories, not just those filled with horror, the film preserves a semblance of the life that once thrived and challenges the audience to reimagine Palestine beyond the headlines.
In conclusion, “Bye Bye Tiberias” offers a compelling blend of personal and political storytelling. In doing so, it honors the spirit of Palestinians, spanning multiple generations and geographies. The film functions as both an archive of memory and an urgent call to understand the deeper realities of life under occupation.
“Bye Bye Tiberias” screened at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival as part of its TIFF Docs lineup.
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