Passing Dreams

In this poetic road movie about hope and identity, the latest film by Palestinian director Rashid Masharawi, young Sami makes an extraordinary journey through occupied territory. When his favorite carrier pigeon disappears, Sami believes the bird is returning to its original home. Determined to find his feathered friend, he embarks on an adventurous journey that takes him from the Qalandia refugee camp near East Jerusalem to Bethlehem and ultimately Haifa.

Sami is joined on his journey by his uncle Kamal, a souvenir shop owner with a sentimental view of the past, and his cousin Miriam, a young woman with journalistic ambitions. Together, they cross landscapes full of memories and dreams, while encountering limitations along the way—both physical and mental. With a subtle mix of reality and symbolism, Passing Dreams paints an intimate portrait of a society that, despite its obstacles, retains its resilience and hope. The warm cinematography and authentic performances make this film a moving and universal story about freedom, loss and connectedness.

This award-winning film - opening film of the Cairo International Film Festival - manages to touch a deeper layer with a light-hearted and poetic tone.