The concept of a Palestinian documentary delving into the cloistered world of Jewish West Bank settlements seems almost impossible, yet it holds real potential. The director reconnects with an old friend—now an orthodox settler—and heads into the heart of this closed society, camera in hand. What will emerge from this encounter? Yvann Yagchi brings clashing perspectives into sharp focus, revealing the extent to which his nation’s history has been obscured by decades of manipulation. Coming from a lineage of pre-war intellectuals, he guides us through a Palestine from before 1948—a land utterly different from the one we’ve come to imagine. By intertwining archival footage, family memorabilia, animations, and contemporary investigative findings, Yagchi uncovers the traces of his family’s—and his country’s—former grandeur. All of it counters the titular slogan, which, after years of repetition, has become entrenched in public consciousness—not only in Israel.

Konrad Wirkowski