A Palestinian artist’s poetic film turns resistance into an art form

'By documenting our daily lives, our rituals, we are reclaiming the narrative and showing our strength and resilience as a society, that we are more than just victims,' says Noor Abed. Photo: The Star/Raja Faisal Hishan

When you watch Palestinian artist-filmmaker Noor Abed’s works, there’s a sense of weightiness to it – in the purposeful movements of the people, the captivating landscapes, and the enigmatic ambient sounds.

Ilham Gallery in Kuala Lumpur recently screened Noor Abed's trilogy – Penelope (2014), our songs were ready for all wars to come (2021), and A Night We Held Between (2024) – followed by a discussion with writer/director Jo Kukathas on her work’s ties to Palestine’s mythology, landscape, and history.