At first glance, steely-eyed, well-dressed Abu Laila (Mohamed Bakri) hardly looks or talks like a taxi driver. Later, it turns out that the occupation only slightly befits him; a former judge who resorts to driving cabs for a living after the government failed to pay his judicial wages, the protagonist of Rashid Masharawi's "Laila's Birthday" cuts a figure of world-weary austerity. He dismisses a young couple who plan to dally in the back seat, reprimands passengers who neglect to fasten their seat belts and refuses to drive anywhere near a military checkpoint. Abu Laila's harrowing journey begins in the early hours of the morning and continues until the evening, as does the film itself.
Set in Ramallah, the Palestinian city on the West Bank and de facto capital of the Palestinian National Authority, "Laila's Birthday" follows its protagonist as he navigates through a regular day on the job, encountering a myriad of different people and situations—except the day in question actually marks a special occasion. His daughter Laila (Nour Zoubi) is celebrating her seventh birthday, and Abu Laila promises to return home in a timely fashion with candles and cake, heeding the words of his wife (Areen Omari): "Listen to me. Interior problems, exterior problems, problems from the occupation it's your daughter's birthday tonight, okay?" Acknowledging her with a half-smile, Abu Laila drives away, ostensibly unaware of the absurd day that lies ahead of him.
The film chronicles a series of well-timed incidents between the driver and his passengers, many in comical fashion. Teenagers with weapons are refused service; a young man, fresh out of an 11-year term in prison, accidentally leaves his cell phone behind; Abu Laila takes the item to the police station, where he is subjected to excessive questioning. En route to returning the phone to its owner, Abu Laila's taxi breaks down and a missile detonates somewhere nearby. By the time chaos has ensued on the streets of Ramallah (though its residents do not seem to bat an eye), the protagonist has run out of patience both at the city's sociopolitical problems and the routine disorder that results from it. Only a much- needed return to the comforts of home and an intimate celebration of his daughter's birthday can restore some peace to Abu Laila, who realizes that the rules he adheres to seem to mean little to the people in the world around him.
Both a fascinating character study and trenchant social commentary, "Laila's Birthday" creates a remarkably nuanced portrait of a city in turmoil through small but significant vignettes. Gaza-born writer-director Rashid Masharawi, whose previous credits include Cannes hits "Curfew" (1994) and "Haifa" (1996), orchestrates the ordeal with admirable sensitivity. Lead actor Mohamed Bakri plays the role of Abu Laila with impressive gravitas, instilling the plot with a balance of grim pensiveness and dry humor that reveals as much as it enlightens.
Set in Ramallah, the Palestinian city on the West Bank and de facto capital of the Palestinian National Authority, "Laila's Birthday" follows its protagonist as he navigates through a regular day on the job, encountering a myriad of different people and situations—except the day in question actually marks a special occasion. His daughter Laila (Nour Zoubi) is celebrating her seventh birthday, and Abu Laila promises to return home in a timely fashion with candles and cake, heeding the words of his wife (Areen Omari): "Listen to me. Interior problems, exterior problems, problems from the occupation it's your daughter's birthday tonight, okay?" Acknowledging her with a half-smile, Abu Laila drives away, ostensibly unaware of the absurd day that lies ahead of him.
The film chronicles a series of well-timed incidents between the driver and his passengers, many in comical fashion. Teenagers with weapons are refused service; a young man, fresh out of an 11-year term in prison, accidentally leaves his cell phone behind; Abu Laila takes the item to the police station, where he is subjected to excessive questioning. En route to returning the phone to its owner, Abu Laila's taxi breaks down and a missile detonates somewhere nearby. By the time chaos has ensued on the streets of Ramallah (though its residents do not seem to bat an eye), the protagonist has run out of patience both at the city's sociopolitical problems and the routine disorder that results from it. Only a much- needed return to the comforts of home and an intimate celebration of his daughter's birthday can restore some peace to Abu Laila, who realizes that the rules he adheres to seem to mean little to the people in the world around him.
Both a fascinating character study and trenchant social commentary, "Laila's Birthday" creates a remarkably nuanced portrait of a city in turmoil through small but significant vignettes. Gaza-born writer-director Rashid Masharawi, whose previous credits include Cannes hits "Curfew" (1994) and "Haifa" (1996), orchestrates the ordeal with admirable sensitivity. Lead actor Mohamed Bakri plays the role of Abu Laila with impressive gravitas, instilling the plot with a balance of grim pensiveness and dry humor that reveals as much as it enlightens.