This film was nominated by the Academy for Best Foreign Picture and deservedly so.
The movie powerfully explores the themes of friendship, love and betrayal, taking place in occupied Palestine.
The Writer/Director (Harry Abu-Assad) gets great performances from the main characters and he has written a very creative screenplay.
Tarek (Eyed Hourarii), Omar (Adam Bakri) and Amjad (Samer Bisharat) are childhood friends who have grown up feeling frustrated, helpless and powerless, symbolized by the wall that divides the Palestine sections from the Israeli occupied areas. The three decide to kill an Israeli soldier since they feel they need to do something to protest the situation.
Omar is in love with Nadja, Tarek’s younger sister, (Leem Lubany), and she loves him too but Amjad also loves her. Love is complicated no matter what but the political situation makes it almost impossible.(This is a love triangle like you’ve never seen before.)
Circumstances are difficult and the friends are put in situations where they either make a tremendous sacrifice or betray one another by secretly collaborating with the Israelis.
I can’t say more or I will spoil the plot but it’s suspenseful, emotionally moving, and thought provoking. This is a terrific film if you can tolerate the Israelis being the bad guys.
Rating 8.5-Top 10 film
Dave
