Divine Intervention (2002)

Separated by a checkpoint, Palestinian lovers from Jerusalem and Ramallah arrange clandestine meetings.

Director:

Elia Suleiman

Writer:

Elia Suleiman

Stars:

Elia Suleiman, Manal Khader, George Ibrahim

6 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Elia Suleiman	...	E.S.
Manal Khader	...	Woman
George Ibrahim	...	Santa Clause
Amer Daher	...	Auni
Jamel Daher	...	Jamal
Lufuf Nuweiser	...	Neighbor with American van
Read Masarweh	...	Abu Basil
Bassem Loulou	...	Abu Amer
Salwa Nakkara	...	Adia (as Salvia Nakkara)
Naaman Jarjoura	...	Uncle
Rama Nashashibi	...	Um Elias
Saiman Natour	...	Friend
Fairos Hakim	...	Bus stop shopkeeper
Khalil Jarjoura	...	Number 6 man
Hamada Shamout	...	Basil

Storyline

Santa Claus tries to outrun a gang of knife-wielding youth. It's one of several vignettes of Palestinian life in Israel - in a neighborhood in Nazareth and at Al-Ram checkpoint in East Jerusalem. Most of the stories are droll, some absurd, one is mythic and fanciful; few words are spoken. A man who goes through his mail methodically each morning has a heart attack. His son visits him in hospital. The son regularly meets a woman at Al-Ram; they sit in a car, hands caressing. Once, she defies Israeli guards at the checkpoint; later, Ninja-like, she takes on soldiers at a target range. A red balloon floats free overhead. Neighbors toss garbage over walls. Life goes on until it doesn't.

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Plot Keywords:

woman | checkpoint | jerusalem | santa claus | mail | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War | Comedy

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie Won the following International Awards: 1- Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival 2- FIPRESCI Prize (competition) at the Cannes Film Festival 3- Special Jury Prize at the Chicago International Film Festival 4- Screen International Award at the European Film Awards

This movie was also Nominated for the following International Awards: 1- Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival 2- Best Non-American Film at the Bodil Awards

But, it was twice rejected consideration for an Academy Award; guess why.

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Goofs

At the border, when several cars are told to turn around, the camera is reflected in the side of the cars for several seconds.

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Connections

Featured in Humbert Balsan, producteur rebelle (2006)

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Soundtracks

Mumbai Theme Tune
Composed & Performed by A.R. Rahman

User Reviews

You need to be ready to work hard at it - but even then it is dull and flawed

Set in the segregated world of checkpoints and bombings of the Middle East, two lovers are separated - one living in Jerusalem, the other in Ramallah. Despite the threats posed by bombings and shootings, and the deterrents of the checkpoints, the two arrange secret meetings.

I have done it too, so I won't make too big a deal out of it; but too many of us doff our caps at the sight of a foreign film, too many reviews are very forgiving of flaws foreign films that we would go to town on in a western film. That appears to be the case here, reviewers seem to have sat down looking for `a deep film that will touch them' and that is what they have found - and in doing so they fall for much of the film's forced pretension. The plot is very difficult to describe and it is not easily forgotten - I found it very difficult to get into it simply because it was episodic and lacking a flow to it; it is more interested in delivering metaphors and symbolism that don't necessarily work that well.

I, like many, do not and cannot ever hope to fully understand what life is like in this part of the world; therefore I was not able to get the meaning or, if there were any, the jokes. I have lived the vast majority of my life in a world of terrorism and check points - but this film is more specific than that general experience. However, for me the film was still too shrouded in mystery and `deep' scenes - long scenes pass without dialogue; the camera stares at a road for minute after minute and so on - it smacks of a film trying too hard to be arty and pretentious. This wouldn't be too bad if it had worked - but, for me, it simply didn't do anything. Some of it I'm sure is daring, and I wanted to find the Power Rangers style moment funny - but the tone of the film stopped it working.

As far as characters, the film barely tries - the focus being `meaningful' swipes and jokes. Five minutes after the film ended I could barely recall character names - and there wasn't really an attempt to develop people within this smugly smart piece.

Overall, if you know the area and are willing to work past all this film's flaws then you may get something from this. However, the curious audience looking to be helped through the film or just looking for something interesting will likely be left as cold, disinterested and poorly served as I was.

Details

Official Sites:

Pyramide Distribution [France] (French)

Country:

France Morocco Germany Palestine

Language:

Arabic Hebrew English

Release Date:

2 October 2002 (France)

Also Known As:

Divine Intervention

Filming Locations:

East Jerusalem, Palestine

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,228, 19 January 2003

Gross USA:

$421,343

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,675,596

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arte France Cinéma, Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Gimages

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1