Made for this heartbreaking time in history, Where the Olive Trees Weep offers an inside view of the occupation. The film is a catalyst for change. Gather in a supportive community setting to view, process and discuss these current events and the actions that can make a difference.

Donna Goodlaxson

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

Doors open at 5pm. Program starts at 6 and wraps up by 8:30. Enter Holy Trinity's main side door under the pergola. The Bartsch Chapel will be on the right just inside. There's a small elevator for accessibility. Ask for assistance at the Welcome table. Lots of free parking is available in the lot off of Lake Street just east of the Trinity on Lake apartments (2813 E. Lake Street). Masks are available and optional.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (ELCA)