shares a remarkable resemblance to Eric Bana, star of Munich!
He's a far better actor, though... and it's his first role.
Director Hany Abu-Assad, a Palestinian who in interviews has refused to condemn suicide bombers, nevertheless manages to fashion a story far from a polemic.
Two young men, long-time friends, are chosen for a joint suicide mission in Israel to be carried out the next day. These are not slathering, turbaned zealots but rather thoughtful, desperate, and resigned characters. The film carefully explores the conditions, both societal and social, which could lead to such futility.
The film largely was shot in Nablus, a West Bank town which at the time regularly was invaded by Israeli patrols and tanks. One scene was being filmed during which a "real" missile struck close by, resulting in the immediate quitting of the film by eight German technicians. Filming largely resumed in the somewhat safer town of Nazareth.
You may not see a more powerful film this year.
Though it is all but impossible to consider such a film in artistic terms alone--- such an incendiary topic plays havoc with emotions--- it stands as a fine film with carefully drawn characters, enormous tension, and a complex rendition of a confusing and disturbing problem.
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Topic - "Paradise Now:" shockingly, one of the co-leads (Nashef) - tinear 05:14:32 05/02/06 (40)
- Re: The director has refused to condemn terrorists attacks? - patrickU 07:20:48 05/03/06 (0)
- You are just plain nuts, aren't you? - Victor Khomenko 06:56:25 05/02/06 (36)
- I want to see the one where the - SF tech 19:11:41 05/08/06 (0)
- You are 100% correct. (nt) - Hepcat 08:48:24 05/04/06 (0)
- You reduce hundreds of human beings to - tinear 17:40:49 05/02/06 (2)
- You should not ask questions if you don't care for the truth - Victor Khomenko 17:50:32 05/02/06 (1)
- Palestinians are the equivalent of the Nazis????????????? You are truely dispicable or impossibly stupid - dave c 18:24:34 05/02/06 (0)
- Well, this is not a political forum but a film one. As a film, it is - tinear 15:01:22 05/02/06 (17)
- Re: Unfair? - patrickU 07:28:07 05/03/06 (0)
- I was not talking about the film, I was discussing your reaction - Victor Khomenko 15:15:47 05/02/06 (15)
- It's an good film. - sjb 17:16:27 05/02/06 (13)
- Problem with any Palestinian made film is that there is no freedom of expression for Palestinians - Victor Khomenko 17:21:34 05/02/06 (12)
- Cheap bullshit: when there was no freedom of expression in Russia, Pasternak... - orejones 03:30:37 05/03/06 (2)
- World history has never been your strong suit. Stick to what you do best - the ad homenem. (nt) - Victor Khomenko 07:20:31 05/03/06 (1)
- I certainly have no pretender´s suits, be they red, or any other colour: while a brown shirt suits you better...(nt) - orejones 08:14:56 05/03/06 (1)
- You got me Vic, you're too smart for me... - sjb 19:12:22 05/02/06 (7)
- All it takes for them to stop mass murder is... - Victor Khomenko 19:41:39 05/02/06 (6)
- ... the Israelis to finally kill them all. - dave c 20:29:38 05/02/06 (5)
- I've never seen Victor advocate anything like that. nt - sjb 20:42:41 05/02/06 (4)
- It was meant to be... - dave c 21:53:37 05/02/06 (3)
- Re: It was meant to be... - Maril555 17:06:53 05/03/06 (2)
- If that was meant as a send up... - dave c 22:26:07 05/03/06 (1)
- Re: If that was meant as a send up... - Maril555 03:30:20 05/04/06 (0)
- Seig Heil, Victor... bring on your cultural propaganda and as I have used that word I presume you are... - dave c 18:27:50 05/02/06 (0)
- Hey, Big Vic... - dave c 16:27:03 05/02/06 (0)
- Re: You are just plain nuts, aren't you? - olgas boy 14:56:54 05/02/06 (5)
- A thoughtful post - dave c 16:35:40 05/02/06 (4)
- It is rather interesting in a macabre way that many Americans and Israelis - tinear 17:47:35 05/02/06 (3)
- You are seeking a comfortable refuge - Victor Khomenko 06:03:20 05/03/06 (1)
- Nearly worth reading for Vic's handbook of racist hate. nt - dave c 06:26:19 05/03/06 (0)
- The way Nazis chose to portray Jews as sub-human is pretty much how people like Victor choose to portray Palestinians - dave c 18:32:45 05/02/06 (0)
- What next Victor... book burning? - dave c 14:12:46 05/02/06 (4)
- A little bit of education would go long way. - Victor Khomenko 14:51:33 05/02/06 (3)
- Well, death is certain, hence the "suicide." "Bombers" because their - tinear 15:15:19 05/02/06 (2)
- The demonising of the victim... - dave c 16:30:59 05/02/06 (0)
- Their goal is not suicide, it is slaughter of innocent. Most people are able to see that. (nt) - Victor Khomenko 15:20:34 05/02/06 (0)
- C'mon Victor, you know tinear is AA's resident Islamic apologist - MMasztal 08:10:09 05/02/06 (1)
- Ah, its good to know the voice of reason is alive and well... - dave c 14:10:20 05/02/06 (1)
- Indeed a very fine film. nt - dave c 05:21:42 05/02/06 (1)
- I second that (nt) - townsend 06:04:25 05/02/06 (0)