Official Movie Website Theatrical Release 10/28/05 (LA/NY) 11/18/05 (STL) Home Video Not Available MPAA Rating Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material and brief strong language Running Time 1 hour 30 minutes Genre Drama Director Hany Abu-Assad Writers Hany Abu-Assad, Bero Beyer Cast Kais Nashef, Ali Suliman, Lubna Azabal, Amer Hlehel Studio Warner Independent Pictures |
PARADISE NOW
SYNOPSIS
"PARADISE NOW" is the story of two young Palestinian
men as they embark upon what may be the last 48
hours of their lives. On a typical day in the West Bank
city of Nablus, where daily life grinds on amidst
crushing poverty and the occasional rocket blast, we
meet two childhood best friends, Saïd (Kais Nashef)
and Khaled (Ali Suliman), who pass time drinking tea,
smoking a hookah, and working dead-end menial jobs
as auto mechanics.
Saïd's day takes a turn for the better when a beautiful
young woman named Suha (Lubna Azabal) brings her
car in for repairs. From their spirited interaction, it is
apparent that there is a budding romance growing
between them.
Saïd is approached by middle-aged Jamal (Amer
Hlehel), a point man for an unnamed Palestinian
organization who informs Saïd that he and Khaled have
been chosen to carry out a strike in Tel Aviv. They have
been chosen for this mission as a team, because each
had expressed a wish that if either is to die a martyr,
the other would want to die alongside his best friend.
"PARADISE NOW" is the story of two young Palestinian
men as they embark upon what may be the last 48
hours of their lives. On a typical day in the West Bank
city of Nablus, where daily life grinds on amidst
crushing poverty and the occasional rocket blast, we
meet two childhood best friends, Saïd (Kais Nashef)
and Khaled (Ali Suliman), who pass time drinking tea,
smoking a hookah, and working dead-end menial jobs
as auto mechanics.
Saïd's day takes a turn for the better when a beautiful
young woman named Suha (Lubna Azabal) brings her
car in for repairs. From their spirited interaction, it is
apparent that there is a budding romance growing
between them.
Saïd is approached by middle-aged Jamal (Amer
Hlehel), a point man for an unnamed Palestinian
organization who informs Saïd that he and Khaled have
been chosen to carry out a strike in Tel Aviv. They have
been chosen for this mission as a team, because each
had expressed a wish that if either is to die a martyr,
the other would want to die alongside his best friend.
Saïd and Khaled have been preparing for this moment for most of their lives. They spend a last night at
home -- although they must keep their impending mission secret even from their families. During the night
Saïd sneaks off to see Suha one last time. Suha's moderate views, having been educated in Europe, and
Saïd's burgeoning conflicted conscience cause him to stop short of explaining why he has come to say
good-bye.
The following day, Saïd and Khaled are lead to a hole in the fence that marks the Israeli border, where
they are to meet a driver who will take them to Tel Aviv. But here the plan goes wrong, and Saïd and
Khaled are separated.
"PARADISE NOW" follows two Palestinian childhood friends who have been recruited for a strike on Tel
Aviv and focuses on their last days together. When they are intercepted at the Israeli border and
separated from their handlers, a young woman who discovers their plan causes them to reconsider their
actions.
Winner of multiple prizes at the 2005 Berlin Film Festival, and invited to be presented at the 2005 Toronto
International Film Festival, the film was written by Hany Abu-Assad ("Ford Transit," "Rana's Wedding") &
Bero Beyer and directed by Abu-Assad, and stars Kais Nashef, Ali Suliman, Lubna Azaba., "PARADISE
NOW" is a production of Augustus Film with Lama Films, Razor Film, Lumen Films, Arte France Cinema,
Hazazah Film and produced with the support of Nederlands Fonds Voor De Film, Filmstiftung
Nordrhein-Westfalen, Eurimages, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, I2I Preparatory Action of the
European Community and World Cinema Fund.
--© Warner Independent Pictures
home -- although they must keep their impending mission secret even from their families. During the night
Saïd sneaks off to see Suha one last time. Suha's moderate views, having been educated in Europe, and
Saïd's burgeoning conflicted conscience cause him to stop short of explaining why he has come to say
good-bye.
The following day, Saïd and Khaled are lead to a hole in the fence that marks the Israeli border, where
they are to meet a driver who will take them to Tel Aviv. But here the plan goes wrong, and Saïd and
Khaled are separated.
"PARADISE NOW" follows two Palestinian childhood friends who have been recruited for a strike on Tel
Aviv and focuses on their last days together. When they are intercepted at the Israeli border and
separated from their handlers, a young woman who discovers their plan causes them to reconsider their
actions.
Winner of multiple prizes at the 2005 Berlin Film Festival, and invited to be presented at the 2005 Toronto
International Film Festival, the film was written by Hany Abu-Assad ("Ford Transit," "Rana's Wedding") &
Bero Beyer and directed by Abu-Assad, and stars Kais Nashef, Ali Suliman, Lubna Azaba., "PARADISE
NOW" is a production of Augustus Film with Lama Films, Razor Film, Lumen Films, Arte France Cinema,
Hazazah Film and produced with the support of Nederlands Fonds Voor De Film, Filmstiftung
Nordrhein-Westfalen, Eurimages, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, I2I Preparatory Action of the
European Community and World Cinema Fund.
--© Warner Independent Pictures
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
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