'Heartbreaking': Palestinians praise Netflix film Farha for 1948 Nakba representation

Palestinians worldwide are praising the new Netflix film 'Farha' for its depiction of the "heartbreaking" trauma endured during the 1948 Nakba.

The film, which began showing on the streaming platform on Thursday, is based on a true story of a woman who survived the Nakba, a sustained campaign in which hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were expelled from their homes by Zionist militias to establish the state of Israel.

Farha, as painful as the *true story* the film was based on is, doesn’t even come close to portraying the full pain and destruction caused by 1948 that we continue to live with today

— Rawan‏𓂆☭ روان (@RiverToSea48) December 1, 2022

Some viewers said the film gave only a glimpse into the massive devastation caused by the Nakba, a period that also saw militias use murder, rape, and death threats against Palestinians.

"Farha, as painful as the *true story* the film was based on is, doesn’t even come close to portraying the full pain and destruction caused by 1948 that we continue to live with today," activist Rawan wrote.

We watched Farha on Netflix w my parents and it hurt..like physically hurt. My mom was telling us how all this was true and worse and imagining the horror my family experienced. I’m not okay rn but I also think everyone that says they care about me or Palestine should watch it

— Batool🌻 (@pattyfrmthebloc) December 3, 2022

"We watched Farha on Netflix w my parents and it hurt..like physically hurt. My mom was telling us how all this was true and worse and imagining the horror my family experienced.  I’m not okay rn," said Batool, a Palestinian user of Twitter.

The film's production and release have provoked outrage among Israeli officials. Israel’s Culture Minister Chili Tropper slammed the show for supposed "lies and libels".

Journalists and pro-Palestine activists accused Israel of using bots to bring the film’s rating down to one star on online film and television database IMDb. They urged supporters of the film to head to the database and rate it favourably.

If y’all wanna do something good and have some fun in the process knowing you’re upsetting Zionists — go rate the movie “Farha” 10-stars.

Zionists have been review bombing the movie as it accurately depicts horrors endured by Palestinians during the Nakba in 1948. pic.twitter.com/KDiAujnmcu

— James Ray ☭ (@GoodVibePolitik) December 2, 2022

🚨 UPDATE: Israelis have launched a coordinated campaign targeting @FarhaFilm and @DarinSallam, the director. I need you to go to @IMDb and vote, tell the world what you think. We deserve the right to tell and share our stories. Don’t let Israel silence Farha! pic.twitter.com/nphirT5Vhl

— Ahmed Eldin | أحمد شهاب الدين (@ASE) December 1, 2022

"We deserve the right to tell and share our stories. Don’t let Israel silence Farha!," said Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, an activist and journalist of Palestinian descent.

Some Twitter users said they hoped the film would be one of many to tell the stories of Palestinians and the injustices they have faced.

"Farha is one tiny story among thousands of untold ones, hopefully just the beginning of many more to come. We will continue telling our stories," Twitter user Waad wrote.

The effects of the Nakba and subsequent invasions of the Palestinian territories live on today, with around 5.7 million Palestinian refugees living in the occupied West Bank and besieged Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Israel continues to forcibly evict Palestinians from their homes and approve the construction of settlements illegal under international law on Palestinian land.