Al-Taghreba al-Falastenya
Al-Taghreba al-Falastenya is a 2004 Syrian Historical drama TV series, considered one of the most important works of drama about the Palestinian cause, produced by "Syrian Art Production International" company. The series was shot entirely in Syria. The series is a dramatic epic that revolves around the suffering of a poor Palestinian family during the time of the British occupation on Palestine, then the massacres by the Zionist militias between the 1930s and 1960s.
Al-Taghriba al-Filastiniyya is a television series written by Walid Saif and directed by Hatem Ali, both of whom lived through the experiences of occupation, war, and displacement. This series marks their fourth consecutive collaboration with the same production company, following Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi, Saqr Quraysh, and Spring of Córdoba.
The series tells the story of a poor Palestinian family struggling to survive under the British Mandate, during the Great Palestinian Revolt, and later in a refugee camp after the Nakba. Through the family’s experiences, the narrative captures a crucial period in Palestinian history, spanning from the 1930s to the 1960s and culminating in the June 1967 defeat. It highlights the family’s resilience in the face of war and loss, while portraying their suffering in a way that closely reflects reality.
The importance of the series lies in its role in reviving Palestinian collective memory and creating a lasting moral and cultural legacy for future generations, particularly in the face of attempts to erase this memory. Beyond recounting historical events, the series presents Palestinian social life in all its diversity, depicting peasants, workers, poets, intellectuals, revolutionaries, feudal elites, and those who betray their homeland. By presenting the Palestinian tragedy in a form accessible to a wide Arab audience, the series contributes to preserving historical memory against distortion and propaganda.
From the outset, the writer aimed to shed light on the many unknown Palestinian fighters and revolutionaries who devoted their lives to the struggle for liberation. This approach is evident in the opening scenes, where major historical figures are mentioned without being fully depicted. The Palestinian village itself remains unnamed throughout the series and is introduced simply as “a Palestinian village,” emphasizing the universality of the experience and the collective nature of resistance. The village thus stands as a symbolic model for countless Palestinian villages that made profound sacrifices.
Because the series spans long periods of time and numerous events, a narrator is used to condense the story. The narrator, Ali, delivers the only instance of Modern Standard Arabic in the series, a choice that signals his future intellectual growth and cultural formation.
Cast
- Jamal Suliman
- Khaled Taja
- Rami Hanna
- Nadine Salameh
- Juliet Awwad
- Taim Hasan
- Nesreen Tafesh
- Maxim Khalil
- Anahid Fayad
- Ahmad Harhash
Awards
- Khaled Taja won the Best Actor Award for a Second Role for his performance in Al-Taghreba al-Falastenya, at the Cairo Festival for Radio and Television, 2005.