The anger caused by US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has blown the creative energies of Palestinian filmmakers who have expressed their views on the screen, including the promising director Amira Diab, author of the 11-minute short film "Sylvie Zein."
The film is the first work of its director, and found plaudits from the public and critics alike at its international premiere at the El Gouna Film Festival in Egypt this week.
The film follows Zain's adventure from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, which, once heard of Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, immediately sets off on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, on an uncounted journey.
Zein first clashes with the barrier, which she cannot cross.Then she deceives a family of Jewish settlers and takes a large car to infiltrate the Old City of Jerusalem, where police evade and succeed in reaching one of the doors of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, where she longs to pray.
"When Trump announced his recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the Jews, it became a major upheaval in the Arab world," Nazareth's daughter Amira said in an interview with Reuters. "As Palestinians, we felt that individuals were more disturbed than governments and leaders, so I thought of bringing the story of Zain to the screen."
"Zein's behavior stems from her personal sense, she did not wait for anyone to move, or listen to speeches and advice, she felt that even if she could not liberate the Al-Aqsa Mosque, at least she would feel comfortable and free if she arrived there."
The filmmaker, who came from a completely different world of cinema, where she worked in the banking and financial investment sector, recounted the many difficulties she faced in implementing her first film.
She adds that "Jerusalem is a very difficult city to photograph, especially in the holy places; there are Islamic, Christian and Jewish parties to be issued permits to enter and photograph, and although we got it was difficult on the ground."
`` We used a small camera, but the Israeli police chased us in Al-Aqsa Mosque, which has more than one door.We were eventually forced to smuggle the actress from one door, the photographer from one door and the camera from another door, '' the director said.
The film will compete in the short film competition of the El Gouna Film Festival, which will end its third round on Friday.
On the significance of the name "Sylvie Zain" said Amira, "I chose one of the synonyms of contemporary life, and is meant to be the personal image that we take for ourselves by mobile phones, and here Zain is engaged in adventure alone."
"The film reflects a personal vision of the heroine; how she reacted to the decision to consider Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," she added.
After the debut of her first film as a director, Amira is looking forward to playing other roles in the art scene. She has finished writing a series called "Women of the King" and is currently working on a feature film. "The Palestinian cause is and will remain so. Arab women in general.