Paradise Now Review

Paradise Now

Director Hany Abu-Assad and crew risked their lives to film part of Paradise Now in the ravaged city of Nablus in the West Bank, a decision that required hiring private body guards, negotiating with armed resistance leaders (and Yasser Arafat) for the release of their kidnapped location manager, dodging frequent missile attacks, land mines, as well as routine gun battles. The “Making Of” documentary would be interesting to watch. Unlike the film itself, at least it would have a clear-cut protagonist and antagonist: Brave Film Makers vs The Fanatical Locals.

Abu-Assad’s desire to make a realistic, objective film leaves the audience with a difficult task of deciding whom to rout for. Two friends, Said and Khaled, are chosen to be suicide bombers. Is the audience supposed to hope they succeed and kill 30 more people in what we all know is a futile act, or are we supposed to hope they decide against the bombing and continue to fix cars and bemoan their miserable lot in life? Or do we want the Israelis to discover the plot and capture even more Palestinians? These options don’t satisfy because Abu-Assad doesn’t take sides. How could he without being accused of propaganda? But if neither side is right in the eyes of someone like Abu-Assad, who was born in the Israeli city of Nazareth, then what is someone in Los Angeles or Denver going to think? Granted, there is a subtle human motive behind Said’s decision to strap a belt of explosives to his belly and seek out a crowd of Israelis to kill. His father’s past collaboration with the Israelis must be atoned for. The problem with that theme is that Said will be dead after he redeems his father. So why bother? Instead of caring for his living mother as well as he can, he wants to redeem his dead father (who was executed by Palestinians)…by killing himself and a few Israelis in the name of a free Palestine. As accurate as this might be, it still makes no sense. And the problems don’t end there. Because unless you have paid close attention to Middle East history, specifically the Israeli-Palestine conflict, then the intractable situation there will be mystifying. Weeks of research would leave you more confused than before: Israel, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, WWII, Oslo Accords, Allah, Koran, Talmud, England, Arafat, Egypt, West Bank, Settlements, The Gaza Strip, Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade are just some of the terms you’ll have to understand before even attempting to examine the problem. Was Mohammad the last Prophet? Was Jesus the True Son of God? Abu-Assad tries to simplify the conflict to one man’s desire to redeem his father, but that isn’t enough. Over fifty years of desperate conflict cannot be simplified.

The average American will see only two men on a mission of death to further a cause that is shared by other ragged people who live like bandits in their own city. Israeli soldiers (the ones who never speak in the movie) are evil because they enter the city of Nablus to capture terrorists who build bombs to terrorize Tel Aviv. The terrorists build bombs to terrorize Tel Aviv because Israeli soldiers enter the city of Nablus. So Israeli soldiers must…etc. etc. The dog chases its own bloody tail. Everyone points fingers saying “You hit first.” And everyone is right.

Comparisons have to be made to The War Within, another film in the “suicide bomber” genre that takes place in New York instead of Nablus. Though Paradise now offers a more direct view into the heart of darkness, The War Within, with its single protagonist and accent on family bonds, is the superior film.

Grade: B

Paradise Now

LA , NY Opening 10/28

Cast: Kais Nashef, Ali Suliman, Lubna Azabal

Director: Hany Abu-Assad

In Arabic and Hebrew with English subtitles

MPAA Rating: PG-13, for language and violence

Runtime: 90 minutes

Release Company: Warner Independent

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