New Palestinian film shuns stereotypes
Palestinian filmmaker Najwa Najjar’s latest work, “Eyes of a Thief,” seeks to convey the complexity of Palestinian life under occupation, a far cry from the typical one-dimensional portrayal of Palestinians in Arab cinema.
![2011 Dubai International Film Festival - Day 5 DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 11: Director Najwa Najjar (R) receives the DIFF award during the Dubai Film Connection (DFC) award ceremony on day five of the 8th Annual Dubai International Film Festival held at the Madinat Jumeriah Complex on December 11, 2011 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for DIFF)](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2014/09/135499337.jpg/135499337.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=_OIDbWgH)
The common saying that one person’s freedom fighter is another’s terrorist well describes how the world is often divided over the Palestinian resistance.
One of the continuous and often angry arguments between Palestinians and Israelis concerns the form of Palestinian resistance. Israelis showcase cherry-picked acts of Palestinian violence in which Israeli civilians are killed as proof that all Palestinian resistance efforts are criminal and terrorist.