Hiam Abbass: Between grief and hope - culture in the prison of war

Hiam Abbass: Between grief and hope - culture in the prison of war

Palestinian artist Hiam Abbass has made a name for herself in the artistic world by exploring both her own culture and universal human themes in her work. In a recent conversation, she described a nostalgic look back at her home country and the importance of her grandmother in her life, who had a strong influence on her. Abbass speaks of an idealized, lost Palestine and points to the moving 1963 song “Baitek Ya Setty El Khetyara” by Faïrouz, which illustrates her memories of that time. These reflections are part of the interview series “Le Devoir de Transmission,” produced by Alain Lewkowicz, in which Abbass addresses the challenges of cultural identity that arise from her life between the Arab and European worlds. Radio France reports that she has a strong connection to her Palestinian identity, which she wants to pass on to her two daughters, Lina and Mouna.

Her own experiences as a diasporic artist are shaped by the influence of her partner Zinédine Soualem, who deals with similar themes of rupture and uprooting. Hiam Abbass describes the feeling of deep exhaustion, both moral and physical, especially after the massacre on October 7, 2023, in which she witnessed the trauma of war. Looking back at her first literary influences, she mentions the poems of Khalil Gibran, which often explore feelings of loneliness and the pursuit of an enchanted land, reflecting her own thought processes.

Art and commitment

Recently, Abbass took part in the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, where she was honored with the Black Pearl Award for Lifetime Achievement. She also presented her film “Peace After Marriage” there and sat on the festival’s jury. How IndieWire reports, Abbass is not only known for her acting roles in “The Visitor” and “Munich”, but also recently made her debut as a screenwriter and director with the film “Inheritance”. She values ​​her art having a personal connection and less about audience approval.

Abbass emphasizes that artists should not be guided by societal expectations and should instead put their own beliefs first. Her political stance is evident in many of her projects, especially those that address the Palestinian conflict. However, she emphasizes that she only feels responsible for her own decisions and always looks for the complexity of her characters. Her professional attitude and work ethic on set are highly appreciated by colleagues such as screenwriter Ghazi Albuliwi.

Looking into the future

Abbass is currently working on a new film project, but has not yet decided whether she will be in front of the camera herself. She describes the financing of her projects as relatively uncomplicated. In an ever-changing cultural and political environment, Hiam Abbass remains a voice for her generation, using her art to tell both the personal and collective stories of Palestinians.