Paradise Now (2005)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Hany Abu-Assad

Writers:

Hany Abu-Assad (writer)
Bero Beyer (writer)

Release Date:

7 September 2005 (Belgium)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Suicide Bomber | Terrorist | Freedom | Terrorism | Video Camera

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 13 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Lubna Azabal	...	Suha Azzam
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

Also Known As:

Paradise Now (France)

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Occupied Palestinian Territory | France | Germany | Netherlands | Israel

Language:

Arabic | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Netherlands:MG6 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Finland:S | Australia:M | Sweden:11 | Germany:12 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Brazil:14 | Ireland:12A | Singapore:M18 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Argentina:13 | Hungary:16 | Hong Kong:IIA | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Iceland:12 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:12 | Iceland:16 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Nablus, Palestine

Company:

Augustus Film

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.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Khaled makes his speech for the second time, two of the people watching him are eating pitta. The man with the purple T-shirt is holding the pitta with his right hand in one shot, with his left in the next.

Quotes:

Suha: And what about us? The ones who remain? Will we win that way? Don't you see that what you're doing is destroying us? And that you give Israel an excuse to carry on?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People (2006) (V)

A must see for everyone.

Paradise now is a very realistic film about the Israel-Palestine conflict. Therefore it's a very contemporary film concerning a topic that still receives a lot of media attention.

The film follows Said and Khaled, two friends who are recruited for a suicide bombing in Tel-Aviv. However, something goes wrong and the attack is postponed. Said and Khaled now have the time to think about what they are going to do.

The feelings of the two leading characters are carefully explained and brought to you very realistically by an outstanding performance of Ali Suliman and Kais Nashef. Though it's a little long-winded in the end the story is excellently written. The film explains a difficult situation without taking a stand or forcing you to do so. People who've seen this film will hopefully better understand the Israel-Palestine situation.

Conclusion: Paradise Now is a brilliantly made movie and a must see for everyone.