Since we are accustomed to celebrity directors , it's easy to miss the genius of Bitar's The View and other short films by him. After watching the film twice it's clear the film's ingenuity lies in the the two parallel narrative worlds, one audio in the form of radio communication between two Israeli soldiers--the sniper and his commander--and the other visual in the form of what can be interpreted as a love story between a young Palestinian couple who seem to be meeting in a romantic rendezvous. I have watched other short films by Bitar and he is by far the most under appreciated Arab filmmaker. I can't say the film won't ruffle some feathers, especially Israeli ones. The most prophetic part of of the dialog is the the deeply disturbed attraction of the Israeli sniper to the Palestinian girl in the cross-hair and the masochistic dialog of a man who has the power to take life and, by withholding death, to give life. The sniper's crush on the Palestinian girl is not that of a normal person but one who revels in this absolute power. At the end of the film, you are surprised as the Palestinian man looks directly at you. Yes, you are the sniper.
PS I did some research on Bitar. He is also head of a film collective that trains young filmmakers for free. This is why many of his films have co-directors, who are his students. How many filmmakers would lend their films to their students to help them with their careers.
PPS The View won Best Short Film at Abu Dhabi International Film Festival. The prize is $75,000. Not bad for a no-budget film collective.
PS I did some research on Bitar. He is also head of a film collective that trains young filmmakers for free. This is why many of his films have co-directors, who are his students. How many filmmakers would lend their films to their students to help them with their careers.
PPS The View won Best Short Film at Abu Dhabi International Film Festival. The prize is $75,000. Not bad for a no-budget film collective.