BPFF: Screwdriver

Directed by Bassam Jarbawi, 2018, Narrative Feature, 108 min

Arabic and Hebrew with English subtitles

After more than a decade in an Israeli jail for an impulsive childhood attack that failed, newly released Ziad (played by Ziad Bakri) doesn’t recognize the world around him. He is free, but his friends have moved on, technology has moved light years ahead, and even dating poses daunting challenges. Though hailed as a hero, Ziad doubts whether his actions had any real meaning. Now living back at home in Ramallah, Ziad’s attempts to adjust to life on the outside and move on prove to be frustratingly slow and haunted by the trauma he’s experienced. 

Shot on location in the West Bank with an almost entirely Palestinian crew, Bassam Jarbawi’s feature debut is an important exploration of mental trauma, an invisible effect of the ongoing Occupation.

About the Festival:

The 13th annual Boston Palestine Film Festival runs October 18-27, 2019 at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Brattle Theatre, and other venues throughout the city. For full festival program, visit www.bostonpalestinefilmfest.org

No Brattle passes accepted.