- February 01, 2006
Paradise Now
We went to the movies last night to see Paradise Now. We might not have bothered because it wasn�t terribly high up on our list of must-see films, but it was playing here in our village cinema and we had seen a preview for it the last time we were there that was intriguing. It was very cold and there was still a lot of ice and snow on the streets, so I thought I would be smart and take the main street through our village, which is always cleared first. It turned out to be a mistake because people had shoveled snow from the sidewalks onto the bike path so that I had to veer out into the street quite often. I don�t have a rear view mirror on my bike, but I really need to get one. I made it without any trouble though. There were about 30 people there in all to see the film, which isn�t bad for a Tuesday night and for the kind of film it was.

Don�t read this if you still want to see it! Otherwise you may no longer want to!

The film is about two suicide bombers from the West Bank who are chosen to go into Jerusalem and blow up as many people as they can. It told from the point of view of the Palestinians and the problems they have are made very clear. The area they live in looks like an abandoned battlefield. There�s little or nothing for them to do. They are surrounded by military. It�s understandable that they go a little stir crazy. However, at the beginning of the film they both have jobs as car mechanics until one of them in a fit of rage at an (admittedly) annoying customer takes a sledge hammer to his car. End of employment. No new job in sight. I found it a little hard to feel sorry for him though. So one evening they are told at a meeting of some kind that they have been chosen to become martyrs and after a short period of shock they decide they rather like the idea. On their way to Jerusalem in a car they ask their group leader, �What happens afterwards?� �Two angels arrive to take you to paradise,� is his answer. �Are you sure?� �Yes, of course.� End of discussion. This film is supposed to help us understand these men, but it really didn�t help me. I�m as at much a loss to explain their behavior as I was before I saw the film. The last scene is a real shocker. How am I supposed to react other than feel anger and disgust? Understanding? Sorry, I think that�s asking a little too much.

So after we got home we turned on the evening news and what did we learn? This film has been nominated for an Oscar for the best foreign picture. I think someone is trying to send a political message here but the signals are awfully muddled.

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Paradise Now - February 01, 2006older_entries%%

Donating blood - January 31, 2006older_entries%%

An Eventful Sunday - January 30, 2006older_entries%%

The Broker by John Grisham - January 26, 2006older_entries%%

The Winds of Change by Martha Grimes - January 24, 2006older_entries%%