|
By
DEBORAH NICOL
It is hard to seek
alternative solutions when all you have known is
the struggle and the fight. Director Hany
Abu-Assad brings to the screen the everyday in
Palestine for two grown men, best friends in life
and death together.
The film begins with gentle humor. Said (the
strongly emotive Kais Nashef) and Khaled (the
enthusiastic Ali Suliman) argue with their boss
and tease each other – this could take place
anywhere. But as they head to their respective
homes, friends that have stopped by must stay the
night because the road has been blocked and there
is great personal risk in travel – this is no
longer anywhere. This is Palestine, and these
men's names have come up for the next suicide
mission in Tel Aviv. Without question, without
thought, this is a great honor for them. They know
their fate, and barely say goodbye to their
families, though the pain becomes evident as they
create their martyr tapes (which will later be
available for purchase at the corner store).
Khaled enters the mission as a child heading to a
birthday party, with much excitement. Said carries
with him the personal reason of renewing his
family honor, and therefore he has not allowed
himself to doubt the effectiveness of the
continual eye-for-an-eye guerilla method behind
centuries of war between Palestine and Israel.
That is, until he befriends Suha (Lubna Azabal in
a careful execution of her role), the daughter of
the great martyr Abu Azzan. Though she is well
respected for this lineage, she constantly
questions killing the other side and subsequently
accomplishing nothing.
As the men prepare for their attack, they are
shaved to look like settlers and prayed over to
bless the operation. As they partake of a great
final meal, a quick shot clearly reenacts The Last
Supper. The setup seems so unintentional that
perhaps though it is the intention of these men to
truly sacrifice themselves for their oppressed
people, their mass murder could not truly
accomplish their goal of equality. So many men
before them have done the same – at what point do
the actions achieve success? Or are they aware
that paradise on earth is impossible, and simply
wish to quicken their journey to the paradise of
the next life?
Abu-Assad accomplishes a great deal in this clean
yet multi-layered film. It is not necessary to add
an Israeli viewpoint to this story, as the
Palestinian characters struggle with their actions
and the consequences. In their martyr videos they
clearly state their pre-written reasons, but it is
the women who must live with their decisions. As
they slowly loose husbands and fathers and sons,
they are left to question the effectiveness of the
fight. No matter what the mindset or reasoning on
the other side of the border, clearly the answer
to their problems has not been discovered. The
people are still suffering, the borders are still
fighting, and they have given up any idea of
discussion. Perhaps this film will create that
necessary dialogue.
The only DVD extra is a trailer and language
options. |
