Watch When I Saw You

When I Saw You is a heartwarming drama film set in Jordan in the year 1967, right after the Six-Day War between Israel and Arab countries, including Jordan. The movie is directed by Annemarie Jacir and stars Mahmoud Asfa, Ruba Blal, and Saleh Bakri in the lead roles. The story follows an 11-year-old boy named Tarek (Mahmoud Asfa) who, along with his mother Ghaydaa (Ruba Blal), is forced to flee their home in the West Bank due to the ongoing conflict in the region. Together with other Palestinian refugees, Tarek and his mother cross the Jordan River and arrive at a UN refugee camp in Jordan.

Tarek, who is a curious and intelligent boy, is frustrated with the limitations of the refugee camp, which feels like a prison to him. He longs to return to his home in the West Bank and reunite with his father, who he believes is fighting the Israelis as part of the Palestinian resistance.

One day, while playing outside the camp, Tarek stumbles upon a group of Palestinian freedom fighters who have come to Jordan from different parts of the world to receive military training. Fascinated by their strength and determination, Tarek decides to join them, much to the bewilderment of his mother and the camp officials.

The rest of the movie follows Tarek as he becomes a part of the freedom fighters' group and finds a sense of purpose and belonging in their cause. He learns how to fight, shoot guns, and survive in the wilderness, all while harboring the hope of one day reuniting with his father and returning to his home.

The movie does a great job of capturing the complex emotions and experiences of the Palestinian refugees who were forced to flee their homes in the aftermath of the war. We see how the refugees are treated with suspicion and hostility by the Jordanian authorities, who view them as a burden on their resources. We also see the sense of community and resilience that these refugees have built for themselves in the camp, as they share food, water, and stories of their homes and families.

Mahmoud Asfa delivers a remarkable performance as Tarek, capturing the courage, innocence, and vulnerability of a boy who has been robbed of his childhood and forced to grow up too fast. Ruba Blal is equally compelling as Ghaydaa, a mother who is torn between her love for her son and her desire to keep him safe.

Saleh Bakri, who plays the leader of the freedom fighters, brings a sense of calm and wisdom to his character. He serves as a mentor to Tarek, teaching him not just how to fight but also how to have faith in his cause.

The movie is beautifully shot, with breathtaking views of the Jordanian landscape and the contrasting gritty, crowded setting of the refugee camp. The film's score, which includes traditional Arabic music, enhances the emotional impact of the story.

Overall, When I Saw You is a powerful story of hope, resilience, and the human spirit's capacity to survive against all odds. It is a deeply moving tribute to the Palestinian people's struggle for self-determination and a poignant reminder of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

When I Saw You is a 2012 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 72.