Private (2004)

A Palestinian family is trapped inside a house commandeered by Israeli soldiers.

Director:

Saverio Costanzo

Writers:

Saverio Costanzo, Sayed Kashua

Stars:

Mohammad Bakri, Lior Miller, Hend Ayoub

11 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Mohammad Bakri	...	Mohammad B. (as Mohammed Bakri)
Lior Miller	...	Commander Ofer
Hend Ayoub	...	Mariam B.
Tomer Russo	...	Private Eial
Areen Omari	...	Samiah B.
Marco Alsaying	...	Jamal B.
Sara Hamzeh	...	Sarah B.
Karem Emad Hassan Aly	...	Karem B.
Amir Hasayen	...	Amir B.
Niv Shafir	...	Private Dan
Sahar Lachmy	...	Private Ariel

Storyline

A Palestinian family with five children lives outside town, near Israeli settlements. Samia, the wife, wants to leave; so does one teen son. Mohammad, the patriarch, is adamant that he is staying. Two of his adolescent children want to fight. His is the passive aggression of non-violent witness. Israeli soldiers burst into the home, taking over the second floor. At night, the family is locked in the living room. We see the effects of the occupation on the children and on the marriage. Through the eyes of Miriam, the older daughter, we watch the soldiers from her hiding place. Jamal, the eldest son, sets a trap with a grenade. Characters call upon Allah. Chaos and death are close.

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Plot Keywords:

israeli | soldier | israeli soldier | palestine | palestinian | 

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Details

Official Sites:

Distributor site Official site

Country:

Italy

Language:

Arabic English Hebrew

Release Date:

14 January 2005 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Domicilio privado

Filming Locations:

Riace, Reggio Calabria, Calabria, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,987, 20 November 2005

Gross USA:

$15,811

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$9,595,697

Company Credits

Production Co:

Istituto Luce, Offside, Cydonia

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min 125 min (original)

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the Israeli soldiers in the film leaves behind a paperback copy of "Blindness" by Jose Saramago in the Palestinian house they have occupied.

User Reviews

A pained attempt to demonize the Israelis

This film does not enlighten viewers to the conflict... it is generic anti-Isreali drivel. The house is an obvious metaphor for the region and the Israelis, of course, are played as the brutish unsympathetic occupiers pushing the poor Palestinians out of their home. The Palestinian family members, with their differing views, are obviously meant to represent the various Palestinian viewpoints. We get it. The metaphor is as subtle as a hammer blow to the head.

This is just more pro Palestinian revisionist history propaganda. Most pro Palestinians either just hate Israel or got their history from the internet. Thinking you are informed on an issue is a lot easier that taking the time and effort to really be informed, as in researching all sides.

It's funny in a sad way that most films that claim to show an even handed view of a conflict always seem to be biased in one way or another.