Drama “Happy Holidays” marks the long-awaited solo directorial debut of Palestinian director Scandar Copti, an Oscar nominee for co-directing “Ajami” (2009). The film, which debuts in prime slots at Venice Horizons and TIFF Centrepiece, follows an extended family of Palestinian citizens of Israel living in Haifa, giving viewers a firsthand look at how cultural and societal perceptions are shaped. It also showcases the effectiveness of his “singular drama” method, a process for working with actors he developed while filming “Ajami.”

Copti says his artistic process always begins with a personal annoyance. The spark for “Happy Holidays” came from a conversation he overheard as a teenager. He recalls, “A female relative of mine said to her son, ‘Never let a woman tell you what to do,’ referring to his wife. This paradox made me realize how deeply ingrained patriarchal values are in our society.”

“Happy Holidays” is divided into four chapters that cover the same general time period, each centered around a unique character. When the various individual characters take center stage, viewers are drawn into their story. But once the action reaches a pivotal moment or resolution, the audience is pulled away from that character and embarks on a journey with someone else. “The emotional shift is intentional,” Copti says. “As we move from one point of view to another, the events we see take on new and sometimes disturbing meanings.”

The striking authenticity of the characters and events is achieved through a rather time-consuming process, although Copti starts with a script. “I worked with a complete cast of non-actors using the singular drama method. This method exploits the paradox of fiction, namely the human capacity to respond emotionally to fictional characters and events.”