The Time That Remains (2009) Review: Elia Suleiman’s Powerful Semi-Autobiographical Journey Through Palestinian History
The Time That Remains: A Masterful Blend of History and Personal Memory
The Time That Remains is a 2009 semi-biographical drama film written and directed by Palestinian director Elia Suleiman, offering an intimate yet powerful portrait of Palestinian life under occupation. This cinematic achievement stands as one of the most important films about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, blending deadpan humor with profound tragedy.
Movie Overview
The film examines the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 through to the present day, chronicling multiple generations of Suleiman’s family. Drawing from his father’s diaries as a resistance fighter and his mother’s letters to exiled relatives, the director crafts a deeply personal yet universally resonant narrative about displacement, identity, and survival.
The film is structured in four distinct chapters, each representing different periods in Palestinian history. From the Nakba of 1948 to contemporary times, Suleiman portrays how Palestinians who remained in their homeland were labeled “Israeli-Arabs,” forced to live as minorities in the land that was once their own.
Plot and Narrative Style
The movie begins in 1948 in Palestine with the invasion by the Israeli armed forces, an event that casts a long shadow over the entire film. What makes The Time That Remains extraordinary is Suleiman’s unique approach to storytelling. Rather than relying on traditional dramatic exposition, the director employs a deliberately distant, observational style reminiscent of Jacques Tati or Roy Andersson.
The film’s black comedy approach transforms overwhelming tragedy into moments of absurdist humor. Hospital corridors become stages for surreal tug-of-wars between police and doctors over wounded patients. Daily routines unfold under the watchful eyes of military tanks. Through these carefully composed tableaux, Suleiman reveals how occupation permeates every aspect of existence.
Elia Suleiman himself appears in the film as a silent observer, rarely speaking, yet his presence becomes a powerful statement about witnessing and remembrance. His stoic, contemplative character watches history unfold from the margins, powerless to change it yet refusing to look away.
Cinematic Excellence and Visual Style
The film’s visual language deserves special recognition. Suleiman employs static, symmetrical compositions that emphasize the absurdity of occupation. His mise-en-scène transforms ordinary spaces into political battlegrounds. A man taking out trash while a tank barrel follows his movements becomes a meditation on surveillance and threat. A mother writing letters on her balcony for decades becomes a symbol of endurance and fading hope.
The movie is a farce which reminds viewers of the Georgian cinematic tradition of military/political farces, yet it maintains its own distinct voice. The cinematography alternates between intimate family moments and wider shots that capture the grotesque nature of military occupation, creating a rhythm that keeps viewers emotionally engaged while intellectually challenged.
Themes and Cultural Significance
At its core, The Time That Remains explores what it means to remain—to stay in one’s homeland despite displacement, occupation, and cultural erasure. The film addresses themes of identity, resistance, memory, and the slow violence of occupation that transforms vibrant communities into spaces of stasis and surveillance.
The contrast between generations is particularly poignant. Fuad, the father, begins as a resistance fighter but gradually becomes resigned to survival. His son witnesses this transformation, inheriting both the trauma and the determination to bear witness. The mother represents the generation that experienced the Nakba directly, her daily letter-writing an act of defiance against erasure.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
✅ Unique Cinematic Voice: Suleiman’s deadpan, observational style creates a viewing experience unlike any other political film
✅ Powerful Visual Storytelling: Masterful use of composition and framing conveys complex political realities without heavy-handed exposition
✅ Emotional Depth: Balances humor and tragedy with remarkable precision, making difficult subject matter accessible
✅ Historical Importance: Provides a Palestinian perspective on history rarely seen in mainstream cinema
✅ Artistic Merit: Beautifully crafted with attention to every frame, earning comparisons to cinema masters
✅ Authentic Perspective: Based on real diaries and letters, offering genuine insight into lived Palestinian experience
Cons:
❌ Challenging Pace: The deliberate, slow style may test patience for viewers accustomed to conventional narrative structures
❌ Minimal Dialogue: Heavy reliance on visual storytelling might alienate audiences expecting traditional dramatic exchanges
❌ Cultural Context Required: Viewers unfamiliar with Palestinian-Israeli history may miss important nuances
❌ Emotionally Heavy: Despite comedic elements, the subject matter is deeply painful and may be difficult to watch
❌ Limited Accessibility: The art-house style and political content mean it’s not a film for everyone
Critical Reception and Impact
The Time That Remains holds a 7.1 rating on IMDB, reflecting its status as a critically respected work that resonates with audiences willing to engage with its challenging subject matter. Critics have praised the film for rescuing the Arab-Israeli issue from ideological hijacking through its focus on absurdity and everyday minutiae.
The film has gained renewed relevance in recent years, with particular scenes circulating on social media as stark reminders of ongoing occupation. Its refusal to offer easy answers or comfortable closure has made it an enduring meditation on conflict, memory, and resistance.
Final Verdict and Conclusion
The Time That Remains stands as essential viewing for anyone interested in Palestinian cinema, political filmmaking, or simply masterful storytelling. Elia Suleiman has created something rare—a film that is simultaneously deeply personal and universally relevant, politically urgent yet artistically transcendent.
This is not entertainment in the traditional sense. It’s a work that demands engagement, reflection, and emotional investment. Through its unique blend of comedy and tragedy, silence and observation, The Time That Remains transforms half a century of history into an hour and a half of profound cinema.
For viewers willing to embrace its deliberate pacing and unconventional style, the film offers rewards that extend far beyond the screen. It’s a testament to the power of cinema to bear witness, to preserve memory, and to find humanity even in the most dehumanizing circumstances.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Recommended for: Fans of art-house cinema, political films, semi-autobiographical dramas, and anyone seeking to understand Palestinian experiences through authentic storytelling.
Where to Watch: The Time That Remains is available for rental or purchase on Prime Video, Apple TV, and select streaming platforms.
Runtime: 109 minutes | Language: Arabic, Hebrew, English | Director: Elia Suleiman | Release Year: 2009
