The Sons of Eilaboun

The Sons of Eilaboun (Arabic: أبناء عيلبون‎) is a 2007 documentary film by Palestinian artist and film maker Hisham Zreiq (Zrake), that tells the story of the 1948 Palestinian exodus in Eilaboun and the Eilabun massacre,[1] which was committed by the Israeli army during Operation Hiram in October 1948. The film tells the story of the Palestinian exodus of 1948 in Eilaboun, a village in the Northern Galilee between Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee. In the incident, fourteen men were killed and twelve of them were executed. The villagers were expelled to Lebanon and became refugees for few months, before managing to return clandestinely.[2]

The Sons of Eilaboun
original movie dvd cover and poster
Directed byHisham Zreiq
Produced byHisham Zreiq
Written byHisham Zreiq
Music byDuncan Patterson
Marcel Khalife
CinematographyAmir Reshpon
Edited byHisham Zreiq
Release date
  • September 28, 2007 (2007-09-28)
Running time
24 minutes
CountryGermany
Palestinian territories
Israel
LanguageArabic, English

The film is the story of the film maker's family, and specially his father's story.[3] Hisham Zreiq explained why he made the film when he said "He choked and his eyes were full of tears, and with a trembling voice he said 'I remember it as if it has just happened' -- this is the way he ended the story, the story of a nine-year-old boy from a small village called Eilaboun, in Palestine 1948, the story of my father, when he was a refugee".[4]

Hisham Zreiq was acknowledged by Ramiz Jaraisy, the mayor of Nazareth and by Hana Sweid, an Israeli Arab politician and member of the Knesset from Eilaboun,[5] where Jaraisy described the film as an important work that tells the Palestinian story in a contrast with the dominant Israeli version.[6] Gilad Atzmon, an Israeli-born British, political activist and writer, wrote in an article: "Zreiq manages to deliver a very deep and authentic reading of Palestinian history. He also manages to portray the intense emotional impact of the Nakba on those who survived the horror."[7]

Synopsis

The film starts with Melia Zreiq, an old woman from Eilaboun, saying: "I hope God will bring peace to this land, and let the peoples live together - a good life. I hope there will be peace". Historian Ilan Pappe talks about Plan Dalet, a plan that David Ben-Gurion and the Haganah leaders in Palestine worked out during autumn 1947 to spring 1948. Pappe discusses the details of the plan, and how was it carried out. On October 30, 1948, the Israeli army entered Eilaboun at approximately 5 AM. They then forced the villagers together in the main square of the village. They chose seventeen young men. Five of them were taken as human shield, and the rest of the twelve were killed, each in a different location. This all happened after the expulsion of the rest of the village to Lebanon, where they became refugees after a five days forced march to Lebanon. After a United Nations peace keeper observed and reported Israel was forced to allow the people back.[2]

Awards and festivals

The film won the Al-Awda award in Palestine 2008,[8] and was screened in several festivals and events, such as:

References
  1. Remembering the Sons of Eilaboun by Gilad Atzmon Archived 2012-04-18 at the Wayback Machine
  2. The official Website
  3. بالفيديو والصور: "أبناء عيلبون" صورة مصغرة لمواجهة الاحتلال
  4. Al-Ahram Weekly: Because it is our right
  5. Aljazeera.Net
  6. Palestine Issue website
  7. Remembering The Sons Of Eilaboun Archived 2012-04-18 at the Wayback Machine
  8. 2nd Annual Al-Awda Award Archived 2008-08-27 at the Wayback Machine
  9. "The Sons of Eilaboun" at Sixth Annual International Al-Awda Convention
  10. Boston Palestine Film Festival 2008 Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  11. International İzmir Short Film Festival 2008 Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine
  12. Amal The International Euro-Arab film Festival
  13. Carthage Film Festival 2008 Archived 2015-06-29 at the Wayback Machine
  14. Regards Palestiniens film festival
  15. Sons of Eliaboun
  16. Arab Film Festival
  17. Sixth Twin Cities Arab Film Festival
  18. Palestine Film Festival in Madrid Archived 2010-09-05 at the Wayback Machine
  19. AL ARD DOC FILM FESTIVAL – Lista Film ammessi e programma proiezioni
  20. Toronto Palestine Film Festival
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