If Now Now, When?

Over the last three years, the events surrounding Palestine and Israel have also been a profoundly personal story for many diaspora Jews, particularly those involved in pro-Palestinian activism. I connected with fantastic producer David Freedman through an Unsolicited Scripts pairing, and we felt there was a story missing onscreen: the experience of a character like this walking a moral tightrope - something that does not frame them as a victim or hero, but could be used as a lens to explore how morality interacts with loyalty.

The Jewish morality I grew up with is defined by opposing persecution, as our ancestors faced it for so long. But many Jews see this very persecution coming from a Jewish country, and face a lot of judgement for that, inspiring our original title “The Secret Lives of a Traitor.” In spite of doubts from some Jews who felt it too dangerous - one organisation told us now was not the time to make a film about Gaza - we were shortlisted by prestigious UK short film funds Uncertain Kingdom and First Flights and then supported by Cine Circle. This in part led us to the title “If Not Now, When?”, Rabbi Hillel’s iconic call to action.

This is a tense, poetic, social realist piece diving into contemporary London and an underserved story of minority identity in British society. Jewish pro-Palestinian activists have been seen occasionally in the news but this is a complex character-driven tale about a person walking the tightrope between different moral loyalties as they navigate family, friends and politics.

We committed to casting Jewish actors in Jewish roles, and having cast the brilliant Rebecca Wilson in the lead role of Tali, explored backstory and the nuances of navigating an unsustainable moral situation. Along with an incredible supporting cast, including notable performances from Romy Ben-Hur as Hannah and Izaak Cainer as Solly, our rehearsals, improvisations, and explorations allowed the performances to breathe naturally, creating a world that feels emotionally true. We kept this authenticity by working with Palestinian actor Imi Hasna as Maryam and pro-Palestinian activists, while locations in Jewish North London and East London’s club scene grounded the narrative in reality.

Cinematographer Jamie Touche and I combined a handheld style rooted in British social realism with a poetic gaze, moving into slow-motion to convey moments of emotional overload, while Production Designer Lily Caccia highlighted the intrusion of social media into humble, intimate spaces. Editor James Jameson and composer Nir Perlman threaded Tali’s subjective perspective throughout the film, blending her ancestral morality with contemporary experience.

This film is not about objective truth or political solutions. It is about subjective experience — what it feels like when identity, history, and principle collide. I like to empower viewers by asking a question rather than making a statement. I believe we have fleshed out a primal question about which moral voice we should listen to when our personal principles and the world around us are telling us different things. I hope viewers who readily connect with Tali will feel some catharsis. For those who don't readily connect with her, I hope they can understand her situation with more humanity. She is not a self-hating Jew as some are characterized. More generally, I hope this film will make audiences think, question and not be so quick to judgement. Hopefully, in it's own small way, it will lead to more empathy, discussion, agreement and peace.