Justice and peace in the Middle East will be possible when people of different backgrounds and perspectives come to respect each other and hear each other out. After the screening of this intense film we will hold a facilitated 
dialogue among attendees to help each of us understand where others are
 coming from.

Seating is limited. Please reserve a ticket only if you plan to attend. And if your plans change and you cannot attend, please cancel your reservation so others may come to this important event.

Admission is by voluntary donation at the door.

Reel Work Labor Film Festival

Where Olive Trees Weep

Maral Quttieneh

Zaya Benazzo

Maurizio Benazzo

Ashira Darwish

Finley MacNeil

Caroline Campbell

Nickoloz Kachibaia

Yasen Stoev

Where Olive Trees Weep offers a searing window into the struggles and resilience of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation. It explores themes of loss, trauma, and the quest for justice. We follow, among others, Palestinian journalist and therapist Ashira Darwish, grassroots activist Ahed Tamimi, and Israeli journalist Amira Hass. We witness Dr. Gabor Maté offering trauma-healing work for a group of women who have been tortured in Israeli prisons. Ancient landscapes bear deep scars, having witnessed the brutal reality of ancestral land confiscation, expulsions, imprisonment, home demolitions, water deprivation, and denial of basic human rights. Yet, through the veil of oppression, we catch a glimpse of resilience—deep roots that have carried the Palestinian people through decades of darkness and shattered lives. This emotional journey bares the humanity of the oppressed while grappling with the question: what makes the oppressor so ruthlessly blind to its own cruelty?

Documentary

Somos Watsonville is a nonprofit, inclusive, bilingual gathering space, where young people and their families can explore their identities, connect with others, receive support and skills, engage in fellowship and fun, and feel empowered to explore and experience emotional, psychological, and spiritual wholeness.