RAMALLAH , West Bank ( CNN ) -- The harsh reality of life and death in Gaza is a common theme for Palestinian filmmakers . A still from `` Fatenah , '' the first commerical animation to come out of the Palestinian Territories . But it was the 2004 death of a young Palestinian woman -- not at the hands of a militant attack or an Israeli incursion -- that struck a note with two filmmakers . Their animated film , `` Fatenah , '' is inspired by her struggle with breast cancer , which is still a sensitive subject in the Palestinian territories . `` The amount of trouble she has to go to just to survive , you feel somehow committed to be part of that project , it is so strong and so emotional , '' director Ahmad Habash told CNN . Fatenah , which tells the fictional story of a young seamstress from a Gaza refugee camp , is the first commercial Palestinian animation film ever made . The heart-wrenching tale follows Fatenah 's pain and humiliation as she struggles to leave Gaza for treatment after finding few Palestinian doctors willing to help . At first , one doctor suggests she loosen her bra , while another says her condition will probably go away once she marries . It takes six months for Palestinian doctors to treat her concerns seriously and diagnose her with breast cancer . Fatenah becomes tied up in Israeli and Palestinian bureaucracy , denied treatment until it is too late . It is a devastating tale that Habash said is not unique . `` The Shata refugee camp , which exists in Gaza ... represents any refugee camp and [ Fatenah ] could be any woman , '' he said . `` The story could happen again . '' The film 's executive producer Saed Andoni said it was a gamble telling such a tragic story using animation . But he believes that bet has paid off . `` I think the animation has softened the harshness of the topic , '' he said . `` Breast cancer and illness and death and Gaza and the siege , it 's all heavy stuff , it 's all harsh stuff . Put it in an animation style , give it a new dimension , give it a new perspective . '' At a screening in the West Bank city of Ramallah , audience members wept after hearing Fatenah 's story , saying they related to her plight . One scene shows Fatenah checking her breast for lumps . The filmmakers hope this will help to break down barriers around a subject that is still very hidden in the region . `` It 's very taboo to speak about the woman 's body in Palestinian society , but in the film it happens and nobody criticizes and nobody says anything about it , '' Andoni said . `` They accept it . '' The film breaks new ground by dealing with matters often swept under the carpet in Palestinian society . Andoni said the film 's greatest endorsement came from the father of the woman whose real-life story inspired the film . The woman 's father said he cried when he watched it . `` It 's a very human story and if it can touch the real family , it is a great moment , '' Andoni said .
Young Palestinian 's death from breast cancer inspires first commercial animation . Score: 7 It took doctors six months to diagnose cancer ; they told her to loosen her bra . Filmmakers hope it will help break down barriers around subject taboo in the region .