Crowds have been gathering at Uprising Theater & Cafe in Avondale to watch “All That’s Left Of You,” a film produced by Palestinian-owned Watermelon Pictures and directed by Cherien Dabis. The theater, located at 2905 N. Milwaukee Ave., opened in the summer with a mission to share stories from Palestinians and other marginalized groups.
“All That’s Left Of You” is on the shortlist for the 98th Academy Awards as Jordan’s entry for International Feature Film. Uprising Theater is currently the only venue on Chicago’s Northwest Side showing the film, according to founder Iymen Chehade. Since its debut last week, three other theaters in the Chicago area have also started short runs of the movie.
The film tells the story of a Palestinian family whose teenage son becomes involved in a protest in the occupied West Bank, leading to an act of violence that affects his family. Dabis plays the mother and co-wrote, directed, and produced the film with Watermelon Pictures.
Chehade said: “It is a very powerful film; it was able to hit the right spot for a lot of people and Palestinians who identify with the situation.”
He emphasized that having a Palestinian-made film shown in a Palestinian space holds particular significance. “That collaboration with three entities working together and telling the Palestinian story on our own terms as Palestinians is what is important,” Chehade said. “That’s what really resonates. We get to tell it on our own terms, not through the lens of anti-Palestinianism, which we’ve seen a lot here over the years, or Orientalism, and all the racism that the Palestinian people have experienced.”
The screening has prompted discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict among viewers. Chehade, who teaches history at Columbia College Chicago and School of the Art Institute Chicago with an interest in human rights and public policy regarding this issue, noted: “The film itself speaks very well to those who have questions about this issue and want to take it to another level.”
He described both the theater space and films like “All That’s Left Of You” as forms of resistance against censorship. The movie is based on true events.
Uprising Theater began showcasing films focused on Palestinian stories in November. Its first long-run feature was “Palestine 36,” which also made this year’s Oscar shortlist.
Another Oscar-shortlisted film, “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” will begin screening at Uprising Theater this Friday after its run at Gene Siskel Film Center. Directed by Kaouther Ben Hania as Tunisia’s entry for Best International Feature Film, it centers around a young girl trapped during conflict in Gaza.
Chehade expressed hope that more venues would dedicate time to Palestinian voices: “I’d love for more spaces like this to pop up. I don’t see it happening anytime soon, but hopefully there will be a time when that will happen.”
Showtimes and ticket information are available on Uprising Theater’s website.
