Paradise now

It was late Sunday night, I just finished watching “Paradise now”, my mind was filled with something rather heavy and gray, and I was still very much absorbed by this provoking story about two young Palestinians. This is such a mature, intriguing and sophisticated movie. It is a movie telling the dark truth of people living in a world that is rarely well covered by the media. And it makes you to ponder, to think deep on the complicated issues we are facing in this world. Also it is a good movie because it is using its very sharp observation to present the facts, the different perspectives of thinking and they are all woven into a very intriguing and grippinng journey that this movie takes us onto. And unlike a mainstream movie which a lot of time serves as a propaganda machine, it doesn’t give you answers to the issues or provide solutions, because the movie maker knows that these are extremely difficult and complex issues and there are no easy solutions to them.

Murdering of innocent people can not be forgiven or justified, that I fully agree. However, what we do need to understand the underlying courses of the acts by those young men who volunteered to be the suicide bombers. There is not much hope in their lives, it is all shattered dreams, miserable childhood, isolations by their own society and above all, there are no lights at the end of tunnel. The emotional despair pushed them to this belief that if they fulfil this special mission their god would save them from the misery in life and they will become someone more respectful in heaven.

It would have been a rather dark and utterly depressing movie if there was not the very lively female character in the movie, which represents more liberal and civilized views of young Palestinians who are lucky enough to be educated in the west and have developed more balanced view and prefer more peaceful solutions. She is a like a refreshing breeze blowing through the world that is torn by endless war and poverty. The character might be too perfect so it feels a little bit surreal, but it certainly paints a nice warm glow in the story that is centred on a suicide bomb mission.

It is also a very sensitive movie, with subtle touch on humanities, the good and bad side of human nature. One of the scenes in the movie, which I think it is well done, is when they accidentally find out that the videos of suicide bombers and or the traitors are both on the shelf for sale or rent. I could feel a deep sigh inside me, so what perceived as martyr or enemy may as well be good entertainment material for others. That is sad, but it is the cruel truth we live in.

Two thumbs up for this first Palestine movie, very insightful and delivering heart felt insider view from a well rounded perspective. Personally I think movies like this help us understand better the conflicts on the other side of the world, we may not have immediate solutions, but understanding in a profound manner, could be a good start.