Hiam Abbass: Between nostalgia and the search for identity

Hiam Abbass: Between nostalgia and the search for identity

Hiam Abbass, the talented actress and director with Palestinian roots, is once again causing a stir. Her most recent documentary film “Bye bye Tibériade”, directed by her daughter Lina Soualem, was recently screened at the Festival international du film de Marrakech. The film highlights the turbulent story of Abbass and her family, who were expelled from Tibériade during the Nakba in 1948 and found refuge in Deir Hanna. The audience honored the projection with loud cries of applause such as “vive la Palestine,” underlining the ongoing relevance of the topic. In a special year marked by the escalation in Gaza, the documentary gained additional emotional depth after the terrorist group Hamas launched a devastating attack on October 7, 2023.

“Bye bye Tibériade” is not only a documentary, but also a competitor for the 2024 Oscar in the Best International Film category. It is expected to be released in France in spring 2026. Abbass herself, who was born in Nazareth and has lived in Paris since the 1980s, often addresses the challenges and pain of exile as well as the search for identity in her work. She found her way to art through the stage of the Palestinian National Theater El-Hakawti, whose closure marked a bitter turn in her career.

Personal background

Hiam Abbass has a dual cultural identity, which she shares with the French actor Zinédine Soualem as well as her own history marked by exile and loss. Her mother and grandmother played a formative role in her childhood, in which nostalgia for the lost Palestine was palpable. The sentimental connection to her grandmother becomes clear in the documentary, as does the binding transmission of Palestinian identity to her two daughters, Lina and Mouna.

Furthermore, in the current discussion about her work, Abbass describes that the transmission of culture and identity is a vital task. She sees it as important to identify a sense of “between worlds” that encompasses the diversity of Arab, European, French and feminist identities. Her connection to the poetry of Khalil Gibran, particularly regarding the feeling of alienation in this world, shows the deep emotional wounds left by her ancestors' experiences. “I am a stranger in this world” is a return to the roots that accompanies her in difficult times.

Trauma and cultural stress

Following Hamas' massive attack in October 2023, Abbass expressed deep emotional exhaustion. In an interview she reports on the trauma of the war and the associated challenges for the Palestinian community. The situation in Gaza makes it particularly difficult to maintain one's own attitude and not collapse under the emotional weight. In this context, her narrative gains urgency as it foregrounds the pain and resilience of Palestinian women.

The film industry has established Hiam Abbass not only as an actress, but also as a director and screenwriter in numerous productions, including “Red Satin”, “Paradise Now” and the hit series “Succession”. With her inclusion in international film productions and her membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, she has earned an honorable place in the world of cinema. Her works are not just art, but a powerful testimony to the experiences, hopes and culture of a Palestinian heritage.

The challenges Abbass faces are reflected in both her life and her art, highlighting the importance of creating a dialogue about identity and cultural belonging through creative means. It will be exciting to see how their stories and those of their ancestors continue to unfold and move viewers in the coming months.

You can find out more about Hiam Abbass and her film “Bye bye Tibériade” in the details at France Culture, El Watan and Wikipedia.