Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk gives us an inside look on recent life in Gaza through the eyes (and in the words) of Palestinian photographer, Fatma Hassouna, who was tragically killed by Israeli airstrikes earlier this year. Throughout this film, Fatma showed incredible hope in the freedom and restoration of Gaza, even as she lived under the most dire of circumstances, and we also see the toll the constant bombings and lack of food take on her as the film progresses. Filmmaker, Sepideh Farsi, showcases Fatma’s photography and art throughout the film, art that seemed like a calling for her to create – she had to document what was happening to her and her people.
The film takes us as close as it can to the Palestinian people, which I think is important, so we feel the effects of what is being done to them more than when we read about it on the news. It puts into perspective how appalling it is that the erasure of the Palestinian people has been allowed to continue, and that lives like Fatma’s, and her family’s, and thousands of Palestinians have been wiped out without care or consequence.
I do have to say that there were moments in the film where I felt like Farsi’s bias clouded the content of the film at the expense of Fatma. The framing of this as a war that started on October 7th (which I know some people believe is true, but I believe minimises the extremity of what is happening in Gaza, and has been happening for longer), as well as questions about the reason for Fatma wearing a hijab – including a brief but still noticeable moment Farsi includes in the documentary where she isn’t wearing it (even after Fatma expressed she was keeping her hijab on because they were recording) were moments that raised questions for me. I will also say, I do believe Farsi was well intentioned in creating this film, but it is important to constantly interrogate those biases, especially as a way to honour the people whose story you are highlighting.
I’m happy Fatma’s legacy lives on and I look forward to the day her dream of a free Palestine is realized.
Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk is playing at TIFF ’25. For more information, click here.
