About The Film

The story of Palestinian national poet Mahmoud Darwish, one of the most influential writers in the Arab world, is told from the perspective of the women in his life.

Jailed in 1964 for his defiant poem “Write Down, I Am An Arab,” Darwish quickly became the voice and icon of the Palestinian people. Around this time he also fell in love with Tamar Ben-Ami, a young Jewish-Israeli, to whom he wrote secret love letters that she kept hidden for decades.

Darwish left Israel in the 1970s, joined the PLO, and became a speech writer for Yasir Arafat. During and after his exile, Darwish was a powerful voice for the Palestinian people.

Through his poetry, Ben-Ami’s newly reveled stash of secret love letters, exclusive archival material, and interviews with his first wife, WRITE DOWN, I AM AN ARAB, is a personal and historical portrait of the man who was the mouthpiece for generations of Palestinians. Winner of the Audience Award at Tel Aviv’s 2014 Docaviv Film Festival.

Director Bio

Ibtisam Mara’ana Menuhin is an Arab-Israeli who is known for films that explore the boundaries of Palestinian and Israeli societies with a focus on women and minorities. Her previous films include THREE TIMES DIVORCED, which won Best Israeli Film at the 2007 Docaviv Film Festival, LADY KUL EL-ARAB (SJFF 2009), and PARADISE LOST (2003).

Guest Speakers

Nida Kiali is a graduate student and Arabic Teaching Assistant in the Department Near Eastern Languages and Civilization at University of Washington.

Professor Naomi B. Sokoloff, Faculty in the Department of Near Eastern Languages Department and Civiliation, Comparative Literature Department, and Stroum Jewish Studies Program at the University of Washington.

 Sponsors:

• Community Partner: Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilization at  University of Washington