Paradise Now (2005)

Two childhood friends are recruited for a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.

Director:

Hany Abu-Assad

Writers:

Hany Abu-Assad, Bero Beyer

Stars:

Lubna Azabal, Hamza Abu-Aiaash, Kais Nashif

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 14 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lubna Azabal	...	Suha
Hamza Abu-Aiaash	...	Checkpoint Soldier
Kais Nashif	...	Said
Lotuf Neusser	...	Car Owner
Ali Suliman	...	Khaled
Mohammad Bustami	...	Abu-Salim
Ahmad Fares	...	Tea Boy
Waleed On-Allah	...	Taxidriver Suha
Asaad Dwikat	...	Shawarma Shop Owner
Imad Saber	...	Shawarma Customer
Mohammad Kosa	...	Photographer
Amer Hlehel	...	Jamal
Hiam Abbass	...	Said's Mother
Nour Abd El-Hadi	...	Said's Sister
Amjad Al-Imlah	...	Said's Brother

Storyline

In Nablas on the West Bank, Said and Khaled, who have volunteered to be suicide bombers, receive word it will be tomorrow - the cell's first operation in two years. They're shaven and shorn, in black suits to pose as settlers in Tel Aviv for a wedding. Something goes wrong at the crossing, they're separated, and the action is postponed, long enough for renewed questioning of what they're about to do. Suha, the well-educated and well-traveled daughter of a martyr, challenges the action. She likes Said and has her own ideas. "Under the occupation, we're already dead," is Khaled's analysis. Fate and God's will seem to drive Said. We must be moral, argues Suha. Can minds change?

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Plot Keywords:

friend | settler | martyr | fate | suicide bomber | 

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Taglines:

In the next 36 hours, two childhood friends may do the unthinkable.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material and brief strong language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [jp] Warner Independent Pictures [us]

Country:

Palestine France Germany Netherlands Israel

Language:

Arabic English

Release Date:

7 September 2005 (France)

Also Known As:

El paraíso ahora

Filming Locations:

Nablus, Palestine

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$7,144 (Hong Kong) (2 June 2006)

Gross:

$15,806 (Hong Kong) (9 June 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Augustus Film, Lama Productions, Razor Film Produktion GmbH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the film was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, much controversy surrounded the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' decision to designate it as a submission from the Palestinian Authority, rather than Palestine. Due to much protestation from writer-director Hany Abu-Assad, the film was eventually announced by Will Smith as being a submission from the Palestinian territories.

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Goofs

When Khaled and and Said are sitting on the rocks waiting to cross the fence, Khaled puts his right hand on Said's shoulder and holds it there. When the shot changes to a different angle, Khaled's right hand is by his side.

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Quotes

Suha: One day things will be better.
Taxidriver Suha: Sounds like you're not from here.

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Connections

Featured in 2006 Independent Spirit Awards (2006)

User Reviews

PARADISE NOW...The Face of Human Tragedy

PARADISE NOW, like THE WAR WITHIN, educates an American audience on the tragedy of the complex battle of "Arab vs. Jew" and does so in a film that brings this struggle home to the West Bank and gives us a picture of two friends selected to carry out revenge for the death of fellow Palestinians. Well constructed, realistic, informative and yes, even humanistic in presenting us with characters that we would immediately disregard with hatred and contempt.

The journey taken by the friends is painful, personal and disturbing, in that the killing of Jews will only extend the bombings and killings of more Palestinians within the West Bank. PARADISE NOW shows us that the historical roots of hatred between Arab and Jew is one that will never go away, and the film points out this factor visually in building to the final scene on the bus in Tel Aviv. When the camera narrows down to the eyes of the bomber, surrounded by healthy, happy Israeli soldiers, the intense moment of self destruction is inevitable.

The shots of Tel Aviv, the West Bank, the excellent cast, direction and writing and development of the characters makes PARADISE NOW a very important film to see in 2005.