Paradise Now (2005)

Director:

Hany Abu-Assad

Writers:

Hany Abu-Assad (writer)
Bero Beyer (writer)

Release Date:

7 September 2005 (Belgium)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

In the next 36 hours, two childhood friends may do the unthinkable.

Plot:

Two childhood friends are recruited for a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.

Plot Keywords:

Suicide Bomber | Terrorist | Freedom | Terrorism | Video Camera

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 13 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Lubna Azabal	...	Suha Azzam
Hamza Abu-Aiaash	...	Checkpoint Soldier
Kais Nashif	...	Said
Lotuf Neusser	...	Car Owner
Ali Suliman	...	Khaled
Mohammad Bustami	...	Abu-Salim
Ahmad Fares	...	Tea Boy
Waleed On-Allah	...	Taxidriver Suha
Asaad Dwikat	...	Shawarma Shop Owner
Imad Saber	...	Shawarma Customer
Mohammad Kosa	...	Photographer
Amer Hlehel	...	Jamal
Hiam Abbass	...	Said's Mother
Nour Abd El-Hadi	...	Said's Sister
Amjad Al-Imlah	...	Said's Brother

Also Known As:

Paradise Now (France)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material and brief strong language.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Occupied Palestinian Territory | France | Germany | Netherlands | Israel

Language:

Arabic | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Netherlands:MG6 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Finland:S | Australia:M | Sweden:11 | Germany:12 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Brazil:14 | Ireland:12A | Singapore:M18 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Argentina:13 | Hungary:16 | Hong Kong:IIA | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Iceland:12 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:12 | Iceland:16 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Nablus, Palestine

Company:

Augustus Film

Trivia:

Jina Sumedi wrote an original score for the film that ultimately was not used.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Khaled makes his speech for the second time, two of the people watching him are eating pitta. The man with the purple T-shirt is holding the pitta with his right hand in one shot, with his left in the next.

Quotes:

Suha: And what about us? The ones who remain? Will we win that way? Don't you see that what you're doing is destroying us? And that you give Israel an excuse to carry on?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People (2006) (V)

Good or Bad movie?

Being Pro-Israeli, I was not expecting to like the film. However, I was pleasantly surprised at this funny, well-paced political thriller. It made me think but not necessarily change all my views. Being open-minded, I will watch other movies by this talented director. it deserved all the awards that it received and was nominated for. Especially the 2006 Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film. I did not feel like the movie was one-sided. The director does not sugar coat what the characters do. Controversial just like Monster and Syriana among others. I have never seen these actors before but it was some of the best acting I've seen. What initially got me to see it was the great reviews that it received and the controversy.