Divine Intervention
Director Elia Suleiman uses a mixture of romantic comedy and quirky humor to shed light on the problems of Palestinians in Yadon Ilaheyya (Divine Intervention). E.S. (Suleiman and his girlfriend Manal Khader), because they live in separate cities, must meet near an Israeli checkpoint. The film is little more than a series of usually comic but occasionally poignant scenes in which Suleiman and others must confront any number of Israeli nemeses. Suleiman's second film, Divine Interventions, was screened in competition at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival.
Director: Elia Suleiman
Starring: Elia Suleiman, Manal Khader, Nayef Fahoum Daher, Jamel Daher, Amer Daher
About the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but it treats war as a cosmic joke and its participants as hapless but recognizably human clowns.
It is impossible not to marvel at Mr. Suleiman's knack for turning rage and hopelessness into burlesque.
Guaranteed to infuriate anyone with strongly partisan opinions about the region. The film offers up simultaneous critiques of Palestinian and Israeli extremism, but the most radical thing about it is that it's often disquietingly funny.
A one-of-a-kind experience, a Molotov cocktail of a seriocomedy.
Antic, puzzling and disturbing film.
Best Non-American Film (Bedste ikke-amerikanske film)
Bodil Awards (2004)
Competition
Cannes Film Festival (2002)
Special Jury Prize
Chicago International Film Festival (2002)
Elia Suleiman
Cinemanila International Film Festival (2003)
Elia Suleiman
European Film Awards (2002)
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