The Teacher

Saleh Bakri's performance as the teacher is outstanding. The unbearable heaviness and oppression faced by Palestinians living under occupation is cushioned by his almost meditative demeanor. While people around him express rage and rail at the injustices, he does his best to keep them focused on resisting and refusing to succumb to the basic human instinct of revenge. This film is a snapshot of what Palestinians endure on a daily basis and while it is hard to watch at times, there is a message of hope in the face of adversity. Full marks to the director, story arc, filming and cast. If you only see one film about Palestine this year, this is the one to watch.