When I Saw You

Annemarie Jacir’s second feature film chronicles the armed resistance of Palestinian refugees, seen from a child’s perspective. It is set in Jordan in 1967, immediately after the end of the third Arab-Israeli War and the occupation of Gaza and The West Bank. For many Palestinians, this period, and the war in particular, is the advent of a more active and violent resistance against the Israeli occupying forces. The film’s protagonist, young Tareq, lives with his mother in a Jordanian refugee camp. He desperately wants to go home, and cannot understand why returning to Palestine is so difficult. When he finally runs away from the camp, he meets a group of resistance fighters with whom he feels at home. Beautifully directed, and featuring an outstanding performance from 11 year-old Mahmoud Asfa in the leading role, When I Saw You leaves a strong and lasting impression. Like Annemarie Jacir’s previous feature Salt of This Sea, it was Palestine’s submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It was screened during Arab Film Days in Oslo in 2013. Cato Fossum

Annemarie Jacir (b. 1974) was born in Betlehem, raised in Saudi Arabia, and studied in New York. She is a leading figure in the Palestinian film community, and a pioneer for Arab cinema. Jacir became known outside Palestine for Salt of This Sea (2008), which was nominated for the Camera D'Or at the Cannes film festival. Jacir runs the production company Philistine Films together with Ossama Bawardi.