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Deep Dive: In Her Footsteps (2017)

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In Her Footsteps
In Her Footsteps is a documentary by Rana Abu Fraihah that tells the story of her family, focusing on her mother, Rudainah. The film begins and ends with Rudainah's death, depicting her life from the 1980s as a young woman from the Palestinian village of Gath. She marries Awda, a Bedouin from Tel Sheva, against her family's wishes, and their life together becomes constrained by the societal norms of their new home, where women cannot go out alone. The family's relocation to Omer, a predominantly Jewish town, marks a significant change. They are one of only two Bedouin families in the area, and the children benefit from a better education and socialization with Jewish peers. However, Rudainah's battle with breast cancer complicates their lives, leading to a conflict over her burial wishes, which reflects the broader issues of identity and belonging faced by the family within Israeli society.

Why Watch

  • •Meet Rudainah, a brave mother challenging societal norms.
  • •Follow the family's unique experience in a Jewish town.
  • •Find out about the burial conflict reflecting identity issues.

Did You Know

•Rudainah was from the Palestinian village of Gath.
•The family was one of two Bedouin families in Omer.
•The film was produced over six years.
•Rudainah's death led to a conflict over burial locations between her children and husband.

Perfect For

Palestinian historyIsraeli societyFamily dynamics