Villa Touma (2014)

Origin: Israel | Palestine | Fiction | Director: Suha Arraf | 85 minutes

Villa Touma

by Suha Arraf / 2014 / 85'

Format / DCP, color. Runtime / 85 min.

Synopsis

Three unmarried aristocratic Christian sisters from Ramallah have been
unable to come to terms with the new reality of occupation and the mass
migration of Palestine's aristocracy. In order to survive, they lock
themselves away in their villa, clinging desperately to the nostalgia of
their former glory. One day, their orphan niece Badia, walks into their
lives and turns their world upside down. To preserve the family's name, the
three sisters try to marry her off to an eligible aristocratic Christian
man. Will dragging Badia to every funeral, wedding, and church mass result
in finding a good husband for her?

Suha Arraf

Suha Arraf was born in the Palestinian village of Melia, near the
Lebanese border. She began her filmmaking career as a documentary producer.
Among her works, she directed and produced the documentary Women of Hamas
(2010), which was awarded in several international film festivals. She
wrote the screenplays of The Syrian Bride (2004) and Lemon Tree (2008),
both directed by Eran Riklis. Thanks to the latter's script, she won the
Best Screenplay Award at the Asia Pacific Screen Award and was nominated
for Best Screenplay at the European Film Awards.

Director's interview:
http://electronicintifada.net/content/suha-arraf-her-stateless-palestinian-film/13936

Villa Touma premieres in Haifa this Friday, 16 October. In November, Maria
Zreik will be traveling to New York to represent the film at the "Other
Israel Film Festival." - See more at: http://www.middleeasteye.net/in-
depth/reviews/villa-touma-world-s-first-stateless-film-
489386955#sthash.xyEh4DXE.dpuf

Trailer: https://youtu.be/jMg-SWePBgw


View trailer