Paradise Now
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Movie Reviews of Paradise Now
Movie Review: Interesting Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
There is not much else I can say about the film that has not already been said. Truly interesting film.
However, I can say that if you look at the negative reviews that have been posted here, you will not find anything bad about the actual film. Most, if not all, the negative reviews are political in nature. The reviewers have focused more on the message (or lack thereof) of the movie. There are no helpful reviews critiquing the acting, cinematography, character development, etc. This is an interesting, finely made film. Whether or not this film glorifies terrorism is irrelevant; what is more important is whether or not the scenes are executed properly. Do these types of conversations happen among these terrorists? Do "some" Palestinians see these terrorists as heroes? Do these terrorists have friends and families? The difference here is that these terrorists are given a face.
I can see why some people are offended by this film. It is indeed controversial, as this is the first time I have seen a film where the terrorists are given a "face". Movies like United 93 do not go into detail on how the terrorists ended up on their mission. Paradise Now focuses completely on how these terrorists ended up on this mission, and that is where the controversy stems from. You may be angry after you see this film, you may even be repulsed. But that is what makes this film so interesting. Highly recommended.
Movie Review: Paradise Now by Hany Abou-Assad
Summary: 5 Stars
PARADISE NOW by Hany Abu-Assad
I read in the Internet-Guardian an article about the controversial play My Name is Rachel Corrie. In this article they said that the Israelis demanded 'Paradise Now' be withdrawn from the awards. I simply cannot believe it; Israel participated in the making of the film and it is an anti terrorist film. Or else I did not understand anything. Mind you, the subtitles were bloody fast! We are in Palestine. Two long-term friends with little future are manipulated and convinced to be suicide bombers. One of them, Khaled, talks with the daughter of a Palestinian dead hero and is shocked to hear she is not impressed by his action, that there are better ways. The other one, Said, has a guilt complex due to his father being a collaborator. The machiavelic manipulators don't miss the opportunity to exploit their state of mind. Khaled and Said are both the ideal young, inexperienced and aimless victims of ruthless and cold extremists. The film is sober, beautiful and terribly powerful. My favourite scene is when they are recording the martyr video. Khaled talks about freedom, pride, patriotism, mother's love while the manipulators are eating a sandwich in a total indifference. Even their camera is not interested! I have seen nothing more absurd since King Ubu by Alfred Jarry, nothing more painful since Night and Fog by Alain Resnais.
Movie Review: A film that makes it real
Summary: 5 Stars
The characters, inhabiting a world we only know abstractly, become so real for us in this film! I think that is what prompts the vitriolic responses some critics have made who talk only about ideology and politics, not about what they have seen in the film itself. OF COURSE it makes us very uncomfortable to see people who are doing things we recognize as bad, and are, by culture and nationality, loyal to the other side of an issue, as human beings who might be our neighbors or relatives; people not that unlike ourselves. That is so with these two conflicted young men, whose experiences touch on the humdrum as well as the dramatic; on rueful comedy as well as on tragedy. These are people we laugh with as well as feel anguish with (remember the quarrel with the auto repair customer, or the scene in the video store where the prices of videos of martyrs vs. collaborators are haggled over?) Then there is unforgettable poignance in such moments as when these Palestinian would-be bombers see Israeli children, getting on a bus, flying a kite, etc., and you know why they are frozen in miserable inaction! (How did the critics who call this film lacking in empathy for the terrorists' victims miss these scenes? Look again!)And the ending doesn't tie any truth up for us; we have to try to figure it out. Like life!
Movie Review: "The paradise in my head is better than this hell I'm living"
Summary: 5 Stars
There's not enough that can be said about the insane motivations of suicide bombers, but Hany Abu-Assad's powerful "Paradise Now" is the closest I have seen to this point. It's a sad account of two sad young men who have been brainwashed into thinking martyrdom will aid the cause of the cowards who decide their fate. When push comes to shove, they both have second thoughts, and the outcome is left to the imagination of the viewer; regardless, it's upsetting and usettling. The preciousness of life--ALL life--is examined, and the futility of it all is quite well addressed. "Paradise Now" is an excellent film on many levels. Aside from its profound subject matter and the fine direction, the acting from all is excellent, especially from our two lead characters,Saîd (Kais Nashif) and Khaled (Ali Suliman). Filmed on location in the West Bank, production values are above average for an Indie film; generous close-ups are frequent, adding a very personal tone to the film. Though it's a small faction of Muslim unrest, one cannot deny that the suicide idea is to be dealt with, though I'm sure it will never be understood. I, personally, choose to praise a God who holds life as precious, not to randomly destroy it; to think of this world not as it is, but as it ought to be.Movie Review: A Sad But Timely Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Said and Khaled are young Palestinian friends who are recruited to become suicide bombers against Israel. On their trip to Tel-Aviv, they become separated and their mission gets aborted. These two friends then have second thoughts about their mission, and much of the movie has to do with their struggle of whether or not to go through with their plan. Said says he was born in a refugee camp and has only left that camp once at six for medical reasons. He also bears the shame that his father was executed for being a collaborator. He believes that his life is without hope, that he essentially is already dead. Jamal, one of the masterminds of the plan, assures him and Khaled that upon their deaths they will be picked up by two angels. "This honor is granted to only a few." Said's female friend Suha tries to convince him that nothing will be accomplished by his becoming a martyr.
The acting in the film is superb; the suspense is nerve-racking; the ending will break your heart. The subject matter, of course, is as timely as the evening news. Released in 2005, the movie is in Arabic with subtitles.