The Time that Remains (2009)

An examination of the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 through to the present day.

Director:

Elia Suleiman

Writer:

Elia Suleiman

Stars:

Menashe Noy, Elia Suleiman, Baher Agbariya

5 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Menashe Noy	...	Taxi Driver
Elia Suleiman	...	ES
Baher Agbariya	...	Iraqi soldier
Saleh Bakri	...	Fuad
Amer Hlehel	...	Anis
Alex Bakri	...	Poet Who Shoots Himself
George Khleifi	...	Mayor
Razi Shawahdi	...	Man with Mayor in Car
Nathan Ravitz	...	Haganah General (as Nathan Ravitch)
Alon Leshem	...	Haganah Commander
Gideon Levy	...	Haganah Officer
Adi Krispin	...	Haganah Photographer
Oded Pines	...	Haganah Officer
Mundir Hakim	...	Fuad's Father
Pini Klavir	...	Haganah Officer

Storyline

An examination of the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 through to the present day.

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Le Pacte [France]

Country:

UK Italy Belgium France Palestine

Language:

Arabic Hebrew English

Release Date:

12 August 2009 (France)

Also Known As:

Le temps qu'il reste

Filming Locations:

Israel

Box Office

Budget:

$6,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

€275,415 (France), 16 August 2009, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,453, 9 January 2011, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$20,205

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Film,Nazira Films,France 3 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

The position of the chairs around the table in the house where Fuad takes the wounded man changes depending upon which direction the shot is from.

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Connections

Referenced in Same Old Blues (2010)

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Soundtracks

Hayaty
(Mohamed Abdel Wahab / Mohamed Abdel Wahab)
Performed by Mohamed Abdel Wahab
© EMI Music Arabia
(P) 1962 Sout El Phan
Courtesy of EMI Music France

User Reviews

Cinema in Exile (Perspectives on Palestine & Israel)

This film has a very distinguished style and sense of humor for such a dark topic on the conflict of Israel and Palestine. It reflects three generations of the conflict through the perspective of Es (the protagonist) who plays a child, a teenager and an elder man. He never speaks perhaps as a metaphor representing the voiceless. One thing I was also able to appreciate as an Egyptian audience, the Egyptian songs by Laila Mourad and Mohamed Abdel Wahab, as well as some Egyptian news references, like on the death of Egypt's President Gamal Abdel Nasser in 1970. Something that a Western audience may not at all experience in the same way a Middle Eastern or Arabic Audience would, is almost like a cheery on the icing for people of that culture, a little gift made exclusively for us, that only we can feel nostalgic about and understand the reference to that culture and era. This film portrays the issue as a gray issue and does no only show the oppressive and inhuman acts of the Israeli Militants, like when they throw Es' father off a cliff. A few scenes show a very human side to them as well, like in the scene when they call out to stop a dance party because of curfew, the first idea that came to mind was the cultural deprivation, but when the military figures start dancing to the music track, it highlights that both sides unite by liking the same music. In another scene, when Israeli military move furniture items onto a truck, the listen to music and smoke cigarettes, somehow very subtly reveals them as ordinary military base figures on duty, it does not look so different from Egyptian bases. He also does not glorify all Palestinians as victims. We get to see a Palestinian who joins the Israeli military and is perceived as a traitor, and called out on it, but he explains later how he needs the work to feed his family. Another very interesting portrayal of how a land under an occupation becomes so natural and part of the backdrop and landscape of the environment, like in the scene when a guy on the cell phone who walks back and forth is pointed at with a tank tracking his every move. The guy does not react at all. This film had a very promising subtle message that the issue is gray and complicated and it seems to be a wish to focus on the good sides in both sides and bringing people together.