Strangers (2007/II)

Directors:

Guy Nattiv
Erez Tadmor

Writers:

Guy Nattiv (writer)
Erez Tadmor (writer)

Release Date:

29 May 2008 (Israel)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Six days in the lives of an Israeli living in a kibbutz and a Palestinian living in Paris, which starts with an accidental meeting in the Berlin Subway during the World cup finals, will change them completely.

Plot Keywords:

One Word Title

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Patrick Albenque	...	Semi jan
Lubna Azabal	...	Rana sweid
Mila Dekker	...	Simon
Abdallah El Akal	...	Rashid sweid
Liron Levo	...	Eyal Goldman
Dominique Lollia	...	Samira Shalach
Stephane Pouillot
Clémence Thioly

Also Known As:

Zarim (Israel: Hebrew title)

Runtime:

Israel:85 min | Israel:85 min

Country:

Israel | France

Language:

Hebrew | Arabic | French | German | English | Aramaic

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR (RCA Sound System)

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

United Channel Movies

Love conquers all

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

As the story begins we watch Eyal on board a plane bound for Berlin. After landing, he places a call to Carola, a friend, one assumes, or a girlfriend as he wants a place where to stay, but he gets no answer. He has come for the final game of the World Cup and there seems to be no hotel rooms available anywhere. Riding the underground, he is seated opposite a young woman who gets off before Eyal. As he is waiting in vain for Carola outside her building, a cell phone rings as Eyal realizes he has the wrong back pack. The call is from the young woman, Rana that was seated near him.

Thus begins this wonderful love story that brings together a man and a woman from such different backgrounds and ideologies, that appear to be doomed from the start. After all, he is an Israeli, and she is an Arab from Ramallah, now living in Paris. The lovers discover they have so much to give to each other in spite of the odds working against them. To make matters worse, Rana, doesn't want Eyal to follow her to Paris, where she lives, when she receives a mysterious phone call summoning her back home.

Eyal, who can't get Rana out of his mind, decides to go meet her in spite of her warnings. He finally catches up with her only to learn she is a single mother with an asthmatic child, fighting not to be deported from France. Rana's world comes clashing down because of her predicament after her son Rashid is taken to the hospital and has no one but Eyal to turn to. Recent events in Lebanon dictate that Eyal must go back to Israel to join the army, something that is dangerous. Eyal must make a tough decision, which really surprises the viewer!

This Israeli film directed by Erez Tadmor and Guy Nattiv was an amazing discovery when it was shown on cable recently. The film presents a bittersweet situation that, for all practical purposes, seems far fetched. After all, Rana and Eyal come from such different backgrounds that their ever getting together, much less get to love one another, sounds almost impossible. This is an example of how the two lovers become entangled in ways no one could have expected in spite of the different worlds they came from.

The directors were lucky in finding Liron Levo and Lubna Azabal to appear in their film. Ms. Azabal, who was so good in "Paradise Now", is an amazing actress. Both Mr. Levo and Ms. Azabal have great chemistry together; their love seems real and the viewer's heart goes to them because of the terrible odds both will have to face in the real world. The couple must face an uncertain future in which bigotry and prejudice can interfere with the way they feel about each other.

Directors Tadmor and Nattiv deserve credit for this wonderful movie that ought to be seen by wider audiences as a hymn to tolerance and mutual respect.