We are unquestionably in a time when women are increasingly heard. Much of this is due to the fact that women are more empowered to tell their own stories from their personal perspectives. This is not to imply that women are a monolith. The variety of female viewpoints and paths are as fascinating as they are informative. The film Jamila presents the clash of a young Palestinian American teenager clashing with her family members, challenging assumptions about culture and femininity. Yasmeen Fletcher (of the Primetime Emmy Award–Winning Disney+ series Ms. Marvel) stars in this film which also benefits from the contributions of extraordinary filmmakers like director/writer Julia Freij and editor Ivanka Lawrence. No film could be more poignant for America right now; a young woman finds herself at a time ripe for self-redefinition and must persevere against long held views by a previous generation of who she is “allowed” to be. This film underscores the importance of embracing cultural roots while forging a path toward self-confidence and personal growth at a young age.

  Nour (Yasmeen Fletcher) is a sixteen-year-old raised in America who travels to her parents’ homeland of Palestine for a family wedding. What occurs is the tense clash of cultures as Nour’s Western way of thinking contradicts strongly with the more prevalent cultural sensibilities of her relatives. The complexity of extended family relationships is layered and challenges the teenager to ponder what is the real version of herself. This situation tempers Nour’s own identity and how she chooses to view her family. Jamila communicates Nour’s transformative journey towards self-acceptance and identity exploration for a modern generation of Americans who also possess strong ties to countries which differ greatly from the US.

 The challenge for the filmmakers of Jamilla was in allowing the specificity of the main character’s identity to not be diluted while offering the audience a means of recognizing themselves in Nour. The widest access is through Nour’s relationship with her Aunt Mona. The apex of their tension occurs when an argument erupts between the two over Nour’s deficiency in speaking/understanding Arabic and lack of appreciation for local cuisine. The editing carefully shifts perspective between the two women, allowing the camera and the audience to be served by the characters as a proxy for accessing each woman’s viewpoint. The catharsis of the peak of this conflict does not rely on dialogue but instead on Nour’s heartfelt expressions of missing her mother and her anxieties about fitting in, both in the States and in Palestine. The editing choices and the acting performances perfectly complement each other in the most satisfying manner. Jamila was recognized with an award from the World of Women Film Fair, a certain recognition that this is filmmaking collaboration at its best. 

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 Ivanka Lawrence professes an importance in meeting other professionals who are passionate storytellers. Having something to say that is meaningful from an informed perspective is the catalyst for the greatness achieved by Jamila. The editor comments, “When I met Julia Freij, who was both the director and writer of this film, our conversation began casually, discussing culture, traditions, and the fresh story concept she was developing. This initial chat laid the groundwork for what would become a significant collaboration opportunity. Soon after our initial conversation, Julia approached me and asked if I would be interested in editing her film. Without hesitation, I eagerly accepted the role. This opportunity came as a result of our shared interests and the connection we felt discussing the project’s themes. As we moved forward, we were able to assemble a diverse team of talented women, which was particularly inspiring for me. This collective effort and commitment to diversity not only aligned with the film’s themes but also created a supportive and empowering environment.”

Writer : Basil Thomson