"Bound By Conflict" was created for my undergraduate Senior Thesis. This film serves as a metaphor—a mirrored reflection of the Israel-Palestine conflict, where both sides, in different yet equally devastating ways, sacrifice their humanity in the pursuit of power while harming the other. My lack of education concerning the conflict inspired me to make this film. I was unaware of the oppression the Palestinian people had faced for generations until the inhumane attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023. I was baffled about what would drive people to do these acts until further research allowed me to see the scope of the entire situation. The specific film that inspired this work was Martin Scorsese's short film "The Big Shave," which was made as an allegory for the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

In Bound by Conflict, the chair represents Palestine, while the man symbolizes Israel. As the man moves into a new apartment, he finds an old chair and brings it into his new place—an allegory for the historical displacement of Palestinians. Initially, there is harmony, representing the possibility of coexistence. However, as adversity strikes in the man's life, and he begins to mistreat the chair, mirroring the oppression and violence Palestinians have endured. In this film, I did my very best to utilize cinematography and blocking to demonstrate the power the man had over the chair. Also, the shots of the man putting objects and his feet on the chair were intentional to convey this representation of power.

The film’s climax serves as a chilling metaphor. The man taking his own life using the chair reflects Israel’s internal struggle—a nation trapped in a cycle of violence and historical trauma, gradually losing its humanity with its inhumane treatment of Palestine for decades. At the same time, the man uses the chair to take his own life; the chair gets broken beyond repair in the act, which symbolizes the relentless suffering and degradation Palestine faces under the conflict. The film underscores how mutual destruction perpetuates endless suffering, emphasizing the urgent need for empathy, understanding, and reconciliation.

I am not condoning one country’s actions over another, as unspeakable atrocities have been committed by both. However, I felt like this is a story that needed to be told because of the complexities of global conflicts that some people do not necessarily understand. This film aims to provoke thought about cycles of violence and the human cost of war.