Amman, June 7 — Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation’s Cinema Committee will screen Ya Tayr Ya Tayer (The Idol) on Tuesday, June 9, with two showings: at 6:30 p.m. in the cinema hall and at 8:00 p.m. in an open-air screening at the foundation’s headquarters in Jabal Amman. The film tells the early life story of Palestinian singer Mohammad Assaf, following his childhood in Gaza City, his difficult journey to audition for the television competition Arab Idol, and his eventual rise to fame.
Directed by Hany Abu Assad and filmed in 2015, the movie weaves together imagined dramatic scenes while revealing the harsh realities faced by Gaza’s residents under the blockade imposed by the Israeli occupation. It opens with four children striving to realize their dream of singing at the Cairo Opera House. In pursuit of this goal, they form a small musical group despite limited resources, relying on worn and simple equipment. Their efforts are punctuated by moments of humor arising from lively dialogue and unexpected encounters. The story builds toward a tragic climax when Mohammad Assaf’s sister—one of the group’s members—falls seriously ill and eventually passes away. In response, Assaf’s determination intensifies as he continues his musical journey, doing everything possible to secure a visa. At several key moments, chance intervenes, ultimately helping him achieve fame and success.
Across its many scenes, the film highlights the presence of the occupation in the characters’ everyday lives—within their homes, schools, neighborhoods, and streets. It offers a grounded portrayal of resilience and suffering in Gaza, where destruction, barbed wire, and the enduring pain of imprisonment and arrests are reflected in the faces of ordinary people. Visually, the film is marked by a careful sense of harmony and balance in its composition. Its fast pacing is paired with shots that resemble painterly tableaux, shaped by an interplay of light and shadow, rich color contrasts, varied camera angles, and sharp transitions between scenes.
Abu Assad creates a clear and engaging style based on traditional realism without becoming repetitive. At times, the film mixes documentary and drama, especially in the main character’s journey through a TV program and his dream of leaving Gaza to join a famous amateur singing show. The director also gives the actors room to deliver natural, detailed performances, showing a wide range of emotions—from happiness and sadness to frustration and hope. He pays close attention to small details, especially in the design of young Mohammad’s home, with its textured walls, colorful windows, and simple surroundings. Music and songs further enrich the film, reflecting everyday life in Gaza, both past and present.
Through them, viewers witness not only the city’s reality but also the growth of characters who embody the simplicity of its people and the sincerity of their modest aspirations.
The film’s significance lies primarily in its subject matter, presenting a form of free cinematic expression that moves fluidly between past and present, and between reality and imagination. It feels spontaneous yet is precisely constructed, inviting audiences to reflect deeply on difficult realities while highlighting how youthful energy, longing, and determination can drive individuals to pursue life, love, and success—even under overwhelming circumstances.
It is worth noting that Hany Abu Assad, the director of The Idol, was born in Nazareth in 1961 and lives between the United States and the Netherlands. He has produced several notable films centered on the Palestinian experience, earning both acclaim and debate. Among his works are Jerusalem in Another Place (2002), Paradise Now (2005), and Omar (2013).