How women explain the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to their children Four women, mothers from Israel and Palestine, were invited to make a film answering a simple question: “How do you explain this conflict to your child?” Yvette, Rima, Sarah and Abeer. Each one with a different life story. As mothers, they must decide how to teach their children about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Lullaby of Tomorrow
The film Lullaby of Tomorrow was created as part of my PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. It reflects my life and experiences as a mother and researcher in the Israel–Palestine conflict between 2010 and 2014. Some of the events portrayed now seem almost unimaginable. The more hopeful moments, however, are meant to contribute to and inspire the understanding that things were once different — more peaceful, marked by greater foresight and courage, even if still far from equality and justice.
The film shifts between perspectives. Each segment was directed by a different woman with distinct life circumstances. Although they never met and hold differing political and religious views, they recognize one another through shared love and concern for their families.
The children of that time are now adults, and their mothers are in a new phase of life. The lullabies of the years from 2023 to today sound darker. In this sense, the film expresses a hope that future lullabies may sound brighter — or at least less dark than they could still sound at the time this film was made.
