Paradise Now - Two days in the West Bank
Paradise Now is an utterly unique film. Directed and co-written by Hany Abu-Assad, an Israeli Arab, the riveting story revolves around the lives of two friends, two potential suicide bombers, Said and Khaled. When they are chosen for a suicide mission Abu-Assad takes the viewer on an intense exploration into their emotions as they prepare for the mission against the backdrop of their impoverished homes and the dilipidated, strangely beautiful West Bank city of Nablus. The viewer is forced to enter the gut-wrenching psyche of the bomber which is an unusually uncomfortable undertaking. Sympathisers of Israel will find much to criticise but the depiction of life in the West Bank under occupation and the thoughts and words of the suicide bombers provides a powerful and compelling insight into the plight of the Palestinians and the motivation which drives suicide bombers. This is not to say that the film is overtly critical of Israel. In fact, the story steers clear of the politics of the ...