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May 16, 2006
Paradise Now
I watched the film between my cousin's ufruf and her engagement party. This is significant only because my cousin is more traditionally Jewish than I am and the difference between going to a Shabbat service where a temple-goer's car actually had a W '04 sticker on it, where prays are said for the well-being of Israel and the stark honesty of Paradise Now impacted me more than just seeing the movie without context would.
Paradise Now is truly suspenseful. Nothing happens the way you expect it to and the change between the protagonists looking "normal" and when they have haircuts and shaves to look like Israeli settlers is unsettling. More importantly, their dialogue is real and realistic. I wonder what would happen if US lawmakers actually watched this film and listened to Palestinians discuss the daily humiliation and hardship cause by the Israeli occupation. Would they be able to hear? Or would they chalk it up to propaganda b.c they've already been bought and sold by AIPAC.
And yet, I agree with Ebert that it deserved 3 out of 4 stars. Unlike Ebert, I'm not waiting for a movie about a secular suicide bomber. It would be interesting to see the point of view of someone who is not economically oppressed choosing to become a terrorist. But more importantly,
I can't place my finger on what is missing from the film. It is powerful and important. It is a better movie than March of the Penguins. But right now I'm falling asleep (which seems to be a trend for my blogging time), and will have to continue to mull over what I needed from Paradise Now to bump it up to a 4 star rating.
More info:
Ebert's review
Rotten Tomatoes entry
Posted by cj at May 16, 2006 10:55 PM