Introduction
Paradise Now is a Palestinian crime and drama film that was filmed in 2005. The movie was directed by Hany Abu-Assad. The primary theme of the movie is denial of the painful reality, high regard for suicide bombers, and the effort to make right parent’s mistakes. These themes have been vividly brought out by the varying nature of cinematic elements that have been used in the movie.
“Paradise Now”
The movie features two childhood buddies (Khaled and Said) who accepted freely to take part in a suicide bomb operation in Tel Aviv. After being told that their mission is in the following day, the two decide to spend their last minutes with their families in their homes. After writing their wills, the two head to Tel Aviv to fulfill their promise.
However, before crossing the border, the two are forced to separate by unavoidable circumstances. Although this is a big blow to their mission, Said is still ready to accomplish their mission while Khaled decides to go back home. Said’s determination to accomplish his mission by blowing up in bus is cut short by the presence of a child in the same bus he is to blow in; hence, making him to quit and return to Nablus
As a result of their early separation, the mission is postponed until Said is found, because the managers of the mission thought that, Said’s disappearance was assign of betrayal; hence, the need to search for him. Contrary to their thoughts, Khaled shares very different thoughts; hence, he decision return to the border and search for his friend.
When Said was finally found he is thoroughly questioned by the operation group, where he defends his action by saying that, because his father was an informer to the Israelis, he was ready to accomplish the mission. After things have cooled down, the two friends return to Tel Aviv to accomplish their mission; however, upon arrival Khaled changes his stand and persuades Said to change his too.
At the end, because Khaled has made his mind, he calls the informer and requestss him to return them home. However, because Said is still determined to accomplish his mission, he forces Khaled to board the return car and goes ahead to accomplish his mission by blowing up in a bus that is filled with Israeli military.
One of the primary themes of the movie is rejection of the painful reality. Jobs have made numerous individuals to commit terrible thing that are unimaginable, as most individuals are made to do anything to resist any form of force. This theme is has been clearly shown by the suicide bombers act of sacrificing their bodies to defy the occupier.
This theme shows how Palestinians have nothing but only their bodies to fight with. According to the movie, suicide bombers are the only “objects” of fighting the Israelis, since all the other methods have been fruitless. Hence, through using them, the movie portrays suicide bombers as the only key to changing the miserable life of repressiveness and disgrace in Palestine. That is, it portrays them as the only way of achieving the desirable results that are sought by all Palestinians.
A second main theme of the movie is the admiration of suicide bombers. Individuals who are ready to sacrifice their lives for the wellbeing of others are always perceived as heroes in most societies. Respect of the suicide bombers is portrayed by the change of costumes. For example, when the movie starts Khaled and Said are portrayed wearing obsolete clothes, which show them as marginalized individuals who the society does not care about.
In contrast to this, they are given stylish suits after agreeing to participate in the suicide mission to show how vital and respectable the two have become. As it was shown, Palestinians like the suicide bombers and perceive them as heroes and legends just like Abu-Azam, Suha’s father, who lost his life while fighting the occupation. This like scenario is supported by the belief held by Palestinians that, all suicide bombers will go to heaven since they are martyrs who died fighting for their country.
The effort to correct parents’ mistakes is another theme that is portrayed by film. In some global communities, parents’ deeds are paid by their sons, because of the tendency of people to prejudge them depending on their parents’ deeds. Thus, sons are forced to do heroic acts, it being the only way of altering these misconceived ideas.
The movie uses dialogue to symbolize how Said was an individual who is driven by shame and detestation of what his father did; hence, his attempt to make it right. This is clearly shown when Said tells Abu-Karen (the operation leader) details of his father’s actions. As result of this, Said feels that he had the right to push ahead and accomplish his mission, as this was the only way of portraying his heroic spirit and clearing his fathers’ past.
Conclusion
Paradise Now is a great Palestinian film that has addressed significant concepts such as rejection of the painful realty in this Islamic country, the high regard of suicide bombers, and the struggle of children to cover for their parent’s faults. It portrays the humanity behind suicide bombs and the basis of suicide bombers’ actions.
One thing that I like about this film is how it has succeeded in passing its messages with no scenes of violence. In addition, the shooting in Nablus made the film to be more practical. Although this is the case, I was not able to comprehend why its writer has used a female character with a different dialect; however, this movie is worth watching.