TEHRAN- The cinematheque of the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art is set to screen Jordanian film director and writer Darin J. Sallam’s 2021 film “Farha” on Sunday, coinciding with the ongoing "A Carving on Stone" art exhibition. 

The film, which focuses on the Palestinian cause, will be screened simultaneously with the exhibition, which showcases a collection of artworks by Iranian, Palestinian, and international artists.

Curated by renowned art critic and researcher Mohammadreza Vahidzadeh, the exhibition features a selection of artworks from the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art's own collection, Saba Cultural and Art Institute, the Cultural and Artistic Institution of Ravayat-e Fat’h, and personal collections. The exhibition presents works by artists with diverse styles and techniques from different eras, created in response to the Gaza genocide by the Israeli army after October 7.

The exhibition will run until September 8.

“Farha” tells the story of a 14-year-old girl named Farha, who found herself at the center of a desperate struggle for survival in 1948, as the Nakba ravaged the Palestinian homeland. The film is a poignant and powerful historical drama that tells the true story of a young girl's coming-of-age experience during one of the most tumultuous periods in human history.

The film follows Farha, a bright and ambitious teenager who dreams of pursuing her education in the city, unlike her friend Farida. However, her father, Abu Farha, has other plans for her - he wants her to get married. As tensions escalate between Palestinian villagers and Zionist militias, Farha's father refuses to join the fight, choosing instead to protect his village.

As the village is attacked, Farha's world is turned upside down. Her father takes her and her friend into hiding, but ultimately decides to stay behind to protect the village. Alone and scared, Farha is forced to fend for herself, hiding in a store room as she hears the sounds of warfare outside.

But even in the midst of chaos and destruction, Farha's spirit remains unbroken. She finds solace in the courtyard where she befriends a family who are also seeking refuge. Tragedy strikes when the family is brutally executed by Haganah militias, leaving only a newborn baby behind. The informant who betrayed his own people is haunted by his actions, and Farha realizes that her own uncle was involved in the betrayal.

With a newfound sense of determination, Farha uses all her strength to escape the village and make her way to Syria. The film ends with Farha's story being passed down through generations, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable trauma.

"Farha" premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2021. 

SAB/