Educational Media Reviews Online

Soraida, Woman of Palestine is one of the few examples of documentaries today focusing on non-stereotypical Middle Eastern women, in this case a middle class, educated, and liberal Palestinian woman. Soraida, is an effervescent and cosmopolitan woman, and she and other women share with the camera their strong viewpoints, reinforcing their restrictive lives, their challenges, and their struggles to make a living in the midst of oppression, escalating violence, and the decline of their civil liberties. The film presents the unfathomable dynamics of a colonized nation within their own political boundaries, as well as the dialectically opposed positions of the Palestinians and Israelis as the victimized and the victimizer, while grappling with often overlooked but significant issues such as the distinction between the Israeli state and the Jewish community.

The film contrasts peaceful household scenes such as Soraida telling a story to her children and hanging laundry, with street scenes of Ramallah under siege with Israeli military incursions and armed soldiers patrolling and announcing curfew. Increasing Israeli presence along with imposed access restrictions and numerous checkpoints make simple things such as commuting or visiting relatives from one Palestinian area to another, cumbersome tasks with potential for tragic and fatal consequences. The struggle on the streets infiltrates their homes as Al Jazeera television programs relentlessly broadcast terrorist activities while the children innocently replicate the tension of the streets while playing with dolls.

Soraida and other women speak of their frustrations in relation to the enforced restrictive measures and amplified violence. As a coping mechanism they feel the need to engage and take action, even with simple acts, to rebel against the occupation. Her small victories include measures such as having social tea time in the house during the curfew and shaking a door mat when the sniper is just outside her entrance door. These acts, as insignificant as they might be, give Soraida agency and purpose in life. The women desperately seek ways to preserve their sanity as well as their dignity in the midst of chaos. In a moving display, Soraida asserts her pride as a Palestinian with strong ancestral roots as she wears a traditional dress and scarf with rich embroidery that have been passed down for generations in her family. Her strong sense of identity and definitive connection to the homeland is contrasted sharply with insurmountable uncertainties surrounding the future of her own people. In spite of the situation, Soraida is able to remain rational as demonstrated by her exchange with her daughter where she differentiates the Israelis from Jews despite the child’s disinclination to believe in her statement. The film also highlights the difficulties of raising a family in a zone of conflict.

Soraida, Woman of Palestine is highly recommended for all audience levels and for discussions in programs on Middle Eastern studies, gender studies, human rights, sociology, and women’s studies. Additional information and resources on regional history would be useful accompanying the film, and might promote better understanding of issues and viewpoints expressed by the filmmaker.