Paradise Now

Paradise Now tells the story of Said and Khaled, two Palestinian childhood friends who work together as mechanics, they smoke together, talk about life, and they spend time with their families. Said has a love interest in Suha, the daughter of an important man who is a leader for the Palestinians. She's is slowly falling in love with him too. You wouldn't know what the movie is about from its first 20 or so minutes, as we follow the two friends on their daily lives. But it all (rather quietly) changes when they are visited by old friends who tell them that they have finally been chosen to sacrifice themselves for their country's cause in a suicide bombing attempt in Tel-Aviv in a couple of days.

The movie is not completely religious. Of course that comes into play, especially when they start questioning, though still very sure they will do it, if it's worth it to die this way. And it's even worse for them when Suha finds out about it. She's against the suicide bombings, arguing that it only makes the Israelis strike back and the confrontation will never end. But what's great is to see the preparation the terrorist group takes with them. They give them new suits, cut their hair and shave them, they make their final videos when they explain why are they doing it and they also say a last goodbye to their families. This is a fantastic scene as Khaled makes his recording, but the camera wasn't working, so he has to repeat it again. It could be taken as funny, but is actually terrible that he has to say goodbye like that twice. They also have their final meal, a scene purposely made to look like The Last Supper, in which all the men in the group are seated on the same side of the table full of food, and Said and Khaled are in the center of it. I don't really want to spoil it but they finally end up crossing the border to Israel and there is a bombing at the end. But it's done so sublime and perfectly well done that is not the horror I was expecting.

Kais Nashef plays Said and Ali Suliman plays Khaled. Suha is played by Lubna Azabal. Amazing performances. The movie is directed by Hany Abu-Assad, and written by him, Bero Beyer and Pierre Hodgson. As for the movie itself, I think that what was done with the bombing scene was great, but everything else before it should've been played more dramatic. I would've want to see more of these characters' lives, and more about how the idea of going to kill themselves for their country and their religion affected their lives for during the time they learn about it until it's time to actually do it. I think that more of all that would've made this a terrific film. As it is, Paradise Now is a great experience that could and should have been better.