The documentary House of Hope centers on Manar Wahhab, who founded a Waldorf-inspired primary school with her husband in the occupied West Bank. The film captures intimate moments, including Wahhab breaking down in a classroom corner, reflecting the emotional toll of life under occupation.

Director Marjolein Busstra, who first met Wahhab 18 years ago during a film workshop in the West Bank, chose to film these vulnerable moments to bring audiences closer to the lived experiences of those in the region. Busstra told Al Jazeera, “I wanted the audience to be there with them.” She added, “I started filming the school, but right away, I knew I wanted to do it about Manar’s inner life. I think hope is a difficult word at the moment, but I have a deep awe for Manar, who keeps creating and teaching even while carrying so much herself.”

The documentary is set against the backdrop of ongoing conflict, following Hamas’s incursion into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent military response by Israel.

Additional context in the coverage includes recent cultural events such as the death of French-Iranian author Marjane Satrapi, controversies around an upcoming Bollywood film, and a Spain Oscar-winning actor raising the Palestine flag at a World Cup match.

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