Deep Dive: Corner Store (2010)
Film Lens
Corner Store (2010) focuses on Yousef Elhaj, a Palestinian grocery store owner in San Francisco. The film is presented as a first-person narrative, using an informal tone and cinema vérité style. Yousef left Palestine ten years ago during the Second Intifada, leaving his family behind as he sought economic refuge. He has lived alone in the back room of his store, which doubles as his office and stock room, while working long hours to ensure the success of his business.
The film also captures Yousef's return to the West Bank, documenting the current political instability and cultural beauty of the region. The filmmakers, Katherine Bruens and Sean Gillane, maintained a daily blog during production to keep supporters updated. The film portrays Yousef's life as a Palestinian American and the impact of his separation from his family over the past decade.
Why Watch
- •Meet Yousef, a dedicated store owner in San Francisco.
- •Follow Yousef's emotional return to the West Bank.
- •See the life of a Palestinian American family unfold.
Did You Know
•Yousef has lived alone in his store's back room for ten years.
•He has only visited his children once in ten years, for ten days.
•Filming began in December 2009 and the film was released in 2010.
•The film has a duration of 70 minutes.
Perfect For
Palestinian cultureGrocery store storiesImmigrant experiences