The Wasteland Reviewer

All That’s Left of You (2025) Written Review

What makes the conflict in Israel and Gaza so devastating? This is a conflict that has been raging for years and has deep roots. There have been plenty of films in recent memory that have tackled what is happening to Palestinians in Gaza, but few have dived deep into the decades long conflict since the settlement of the state of Israel. Writer/director/star Cherien Dabis crafts a sprawling human epic that follows a family through the decades and explores how generations have been affected by this conflict. 

How does Dabis approach this story from behind the camera with All That’s Left to You. This film is not just engrossing due to its powerful story. For a narrative that sprawls across many years, Dabis and her team capture a feeling and scale that captures the significance of these events. But even more importantly, Dabis is still able to capture the intimate emotions of a deeply personal story. The ability to balance that scale and intimacy is quite difficult and luckily Dabis treads that needle. The film captures so much emotion without overplaying its hand. A tragic and emotional journey like this could easily spiral into melodrama and overdramatized presentation but Dabis’ deft direction keeps this film feeling natural and humanistic. The visuals are quite sharp as well as cinematographer Christopher Aoun delivering a sharp and engrossing looking films. There might be a fair share of quieter moments along the way, but Dabis builds tension and energy that drives this film forward for almost two and a half hours. 

Does Dabis deliver an impactful and poignant story with such a significant subject matter? The scale can feel a bit unwieldy at times but overall, Dabis crafts an interlocking narrative that captures so much emotion and meaning. Each period of the story has its own hooks and drama that builds conflict, connection, and emotional reactions. The core element is a Palestinian teen becoming swept up in a large-scale protest which sends ripple effects through their whole family (while connecting back to help accomplish a broader context). Dabis finds a story that engages through it portrays love, tragedy, and healing. The characters are deeply human as they give a relatable and authentic feel. Where the narrative takes these characters (and the audience) is powerful, unexpected, and thoughtful. The themes centered on the disconnect between Israelis and Palestinians is explored in unexpected yet powerful ways. This might be quite a long film, but it does an incredible job of finding elements to keep the audience invested. 

What final element elevates this powerful story? The cast does plenty of great work. Most important to note, this is not a film filled with giant acting choices. There is a consistency in tone and approach from the whole cast. This is not to say that there is a lack of feeling along the way. There is plenty of emotion that is organically portrayed by these committed performers. Dabis and Saleh Bakri carry many moments in the film as the central couple who lose so much. There is a rich humanity and complexity in these characters, and this cast sinks their teeth in and enriches this cinematic experience. Whether they are given a small-scale conversation or navigating a massive demonstration, these actors navigate their roles effectively and reach the levels of acting expected of them at any given moment. 

Does Dabis’ film stand out and leave an impact with this sensitive and relevant subject matter? All That’s Left of You is a powerful and engaging film. The balance between sprawling epic about generation strife and intimate character centered storytelling is quite profound. Dabis delivers on the page, behind the camera, and on the screen. This is a film filled with emotional and complex family and cultural conflicts while offering an engaging two and a half hours.