the complexities of things

A recent viewing of Paradise Now (From the most unexpected place, comes a bold new call for peace / film website) which was followed up by a discussion between journalist Amira Haas und Kifah Massarwi convinced me that this film (I already had posted on it in short in Feb.05) really is worth to be mentioned again. The most remarkable point about it is reflected in the filmmaker’s remark (see quote below) that the film is examinating a certain condition / situation without delivering a definite answer. Instead it opens the view on a discourse which cannot just been put aside with categories of good or bad as the film gives a chance to at least glance at the underlying reasons for a desperate condition.

Worth mentioning is as well the clear opinion and adressing critique regarding the politics of occupation as expressed by Amira Haas, an israelian journalist who lives since a few years in Ramallah. Her explanations of the experience to live under similar (eventhough privileged) conditions as the Palestinians there described the high pressure which evolves due to the limited rights and possibilities in the occupied territories. I also would support her viewpoint that the film more likely adresses an internal discourse than it wants to demonstrate it solely to an outside world. This gets stenghtened by the filmmaker’s statement on his concerns to keep the film as authentical as possible. And exactly this builds up the quality of the movie and makes it considerable as discoursive material for a highly actual and problematic field – and to get insights as an outsider …

“I’m not making a film to humanize human beings… I’m using the language of film to show the complexities of things. It’s not black and white, not good and bad. It’s obvious that Palestinians are human beings. As a filmmaker, it is not my job to tell you what you already know.”

I thought that was an interesting point. I did not get the sense that the film was sympathetic to either side of the political conflict. Rather, it’s a real, deep and intense personal view of how normal young men make the decision to do something so unimaginable.

via worldchanging

UPDATE: realted link for paradise now – a review on chutry experiment

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