Ordinary Girl, Extraordinary Circumstance

Welcome to Hebron - an occupied city in the West Bank with a population of 150,000 Palestinians, where an Israeli settlement of 600 brings with it a military installation of 4,000 to defend the residents' rights.

“When you see a Palestinian, you throw a rock.”

Filmed over three years, Welcome to Hebron follows Leila, a bright and opinionated Palestinian schoolgirl who refuses to be a victim. Although nothing more than a target for the Israeli settlers and soldiers, Leila dreams of seeing things change, studying in Egypt and some day bringing peace to Hebron. Defying Western stereotypes of Arab women, Leila has her own clear ideas about freedom, justice and what it means to live under occupation, and isn’t afraid to express them.

“There is no Palestine, Israel is our land”

Welcome to Hebron goes beyond news report cliche and allows us to see daily life as it really is. Swedish director Terje Carlsson is unafraid of getting up close and personal, capturing the kind of confrontations that are routinely censored or hidden from news cameras but which characterise the struggles faced by those living in the Occupied Territories.

Welcome to Hebron is a reminder that life in our supposedly progressive and open 21st century is still a dangerous and divisive experience for many. But unlike the cycles of hatred, repression and violence that inform young children's attitudes, Leila's hopeful perspective and desire for peace hidden suggests that the future can be a different place.

European Showcases

Welcome to Hebron was premiered in Sweden at the Stockholm International film festival in 2007 and has since been to Norway, Spain, Australia, Croatia, France, Italy and Germany. Its powerful contemporary message is still drawing acclaim and has recently been selected for the The Chicago Palestine Film Festival.

The city of Hebron has a fascinating and complex history. If the film grabs your attention like it did mine, see if you can find the time to discover more on this often hidden part of our world.