Maha Haj’s UPSHOT is a poignant exploration of grief, loss, and the enduring power of familial bonds

According to the Cambridge dictionary, UPSHOT is “something that happens as a result of other actions, events, or decisions.’ Similarly, Maha Haj’s latest Palestinian short, UPSHOT, seems to be set in the aftermath of a mysterious event.

The film — which will have its world premiere at the Pardi di Domani – Corti d’Autore Competition at the Locarno International Film Festival — starts off by introducing audiences to an aging couple living on a farm somewhere, isolated from the rest of the world, engaging in their daily routine, chopping wood, cooking, and busying themselves with all manner of chores.

Each one works in isolation from the other, gathering only at their dining table three times a day for their meals. It’s in these instances that they discuss their children’s affairs. One of them is married and has a problem with his wife. Another is a 34-year-old daughter who hasn’t gotten married and whose father is pushing to continue her education. And the other has a problem with his job and wants to focus on sketching.

With each meal, they raise a new issue about their children and debate what they should do about it. However, as the film progresses, we realize that there’s this sad aura that looms around the aging couple who always seem to be dressed in black.

One day, their routine is interrupted by an unwelcome visitor whose insistence on visiting the couple presents us with a hidden truth the couple has been bearing for so long and yet can’t hope to cope with.

Sending a strong message on the devastating effects of war on individuals and bringing to the surface the Palestinian issue and the Israeli invasion of Gaza, UPSHOT is a heartbreaking film that rightfully tugs at your heartstrings, visualizing how unaddressed wanton loss can remain a source of agony years after the death of a loved one, painting a haunting and prophetic picture of the state of Gaza.

UPSHOT is both a lamentation and a testament to the indomitable power of the human spirit. In a world defined by suffering, Suleiman and Lubna’s journey is a poignant reminder of the boundless resilience of the human imagination.

With a narrative set in the future, this film confronts the stark reality of a nation scarred by decades of conflict. There are no easy answers, no political solutions to assuage the anguish of parents who have lost everything. And so, it unfolds in a realm unbound by time or place — a poignant reflection of the irreparable loss that defies earthly confines.

This gripping drama is brought to life by a starry cast that features Mohammed Bakri — who received numerous awards for his works, including the Career Achievement Award at the El Gouna Film Festival, and Berlin’s Free Speech Bear Award — Areen Omari, and Amer Hlehel.

It is also directed Maha El Haj, whose film, MEDITERRANEAN FEVER, won Best Screenplay at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard; produced by Hanna Atallah, who is known for the Seatle and Rotterdam winner REPORTS ON SARAH AND SALEEM; and lensed by Augustin Bonnet, who is known for the Oscar-nominated ANATOMY OF A FALL.