Yael Kaplan and Zev Faintuch
Paradise Now Blog
This segment of Abu-Assad’s Paradise Now begins with the attack being postponed because Said is MIA (missing in action). When Said returns to the West Bank, he checks the hideout to find Khaled and the others; but it is completely empty. The two friends go searching for one another but keep missing each other. Interestingly enough, everyone they meet comments on their suit. However, Said’s mother is the only one who finds the suits suspicious. She knows something is up.
While Khaled is driving, a car dangerously passes him and he curses the driver. It is somewhat odd how he is suddenly so concerned about his life when hours ago he was willingly and almost even excitedly ready to end his life by blowing himself up. We also see Khaled complain about removing the tape from his chest. How could someone complain about such a minute task but not even think twice about ending their life?
While Suha and Said are in the video store, a martyr video is playing on one of the televisions. The cashier tells them that he has martyr and collaborator videos for rent and purchase. He also tells them that the collaborator videos are more expensive because they are in higher demand. This reflects the Palestinian society (in the movie): people would rather see punishment than self sacrifice (even if the sacrifice is on their behalf). Interestingly enough, this means that the culture values the perpetuation violence, even killing their own people, more then they value the martyrs who kill themselves in order to the struggle.
Next we see the scene where Suha and Said argue over logic and ethics behind using terrorism as a means to achieve the Palestinian goal of freedom. Many interesting points are raised and the theme of who is left behind is further explored. Suha says that martyrdom is not sacrifice, but rather, revenge. Said says that he would “rather have a paradise in his head then live in hell”, which is ironic because we previously see him sitting down and appreciating his surroundings.
Said constantly spews propaganda that has no doubt, been repeated so many times to him that it has become truth. He goes on to say that conflict the is the only option: “there is no freedom without struggle”. By saying this, Said is saying that the Palestinians are disempowered.eHHHHhh Suha, however, thinks that because the Israeli army is very strong, the Palestinians should empower themselves by making their struggle into a moral war. This clash between the two acts a magnifying glass for us: we see clearly two aspects of the Palestinian side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Sharna & Amy Blog
Sharna: Whoah, why are they sitting and looking out on the city beside a broken down car with goats walking around it?
Amy: I think it is because they want us to think that everything is normal.
Sharna: Oh! So we don’t see them as evil people?
Amy: Precisely. They are chillin with nature, and have no cares, no work, and nothing to do.
Sharna: I totally didn’t see it coming that they are going to be suicide bombers… They were so normal
Amy: Me neither. I don’t think that the girl Said likes likes it very much.
Sharna: No. She doesn’t. It’s because her dad died blowing himself up. He is Said’s hero.
Amy: Yeah. It’s sad. She said she doesn’t care that he died as a hero, because she would rather him be alive.
Sharna: That’s really sad. They don’t really think about their family after they go through with the plan.
Amy: I know. I can’t imagine how the family would feel.
Sharna: Wait why would Said go to her at 4 in the morning to drop off the keys?
Amy: Probably because he couldn’t face saying goodbye to her. He likes her so much and he didn’t think that she would answer the door.
Sharna: Oh yeah. And if she was there, he probably wanted to talk about her father.
Amy: Too bad she didn’t like that very much. She thinks there are other ways to deal with the situation with Israel other than blowing themselves up.
Sharna: He thinks that it’s god’s will. He wants to keep the cause alive.
Amy: That’s ironic- “keeping the cause alive” means killing himself.
Sharna: Good call. How weird was seeing them give their statements?
Amy: Yeah. So weird. Khaled was reading off of a paper.
Sharna: Yeah. But then it wasn’t recording it so he did it a second time… And started talking about water filters?
Amy: Yeah. I think he realized what he was doing the second time. His fantasy was broken.
Sharna: I guess so. I think it was really weird that the others were eating pita casually while he was giving his last words.
Amy: I know! So weird! But I guess it’s because it’s their job. They do it every day.
Sharna: You’re right. But that’s so weird. Said and Khaled are about to kill themselves and they are just nonchalantly eating.
Amy: Yeah. I didn’t like when they were sending the boys off either.
Sharna: Me neither. They were completely chill with sending the boys off to their deaths. And when they asked what would happen if they were to die the guy completely couldn’t look them in the eyes.
Amy: I know.
Sharna: It’s because they really don’t know what happens. They know what they want to happen, that an angle comes and picks them up and flies them to heaven, but have no idea that it will… And if it doesn’t...is it a waste?
Amy: Yeah! Said seems really nervous about it. But it seems like Khaled just wants to be like James Bond.
Sharna: It’s like he thinks it’s a game.
Amy: Did you notice that the guy making the bombs had no hands.
Sharna: Yes! Sketchy.
Amy: Oh! You know what I realized. When they are eating it’s totally representing the last supper!
Sharna: Yeah! Oh also, even though the guys are hotter when they are clean shaven, it’s like they are losing all their character and are turning into robots to complete this task.
Amy: Yeah! It’s so sad when they get separated.
Sharna: I know! And when Khaled gets the bombs taken off of him and complains about the tape being ripped off.
Amy: And the guy’s just like: “oh well we never planned on taking it off”
Sharna: Weird! I totally thought that Said was going to go through with setting off his bomb!
Amy: Me too! Until he saw the kid on the bus…
Sharna: Yeah! He probably realized that this innocent child is not his enemy.
Amy: Probably. Well I hope that they reunite and don’t go through with their plan.
Sharna: Me too! And realize that they should be handling the situation in a different way.
Amy: I hope it works out!
Sharna: Same! I can’t wait to watch more! Oh and by the way.. how pretty is the girl Said likes?! She reminds me of that girl from the story book....you know the one.... whats her name...
Amy: CINDERELLA
Amy: I think it is because they want us to think that everything is normal.
Sharna: Oh! So we don’t see them as evil people?
Amy: Precisely. They are chillin with nature, and have no cares, no work, and nothing to do.
Sharna: I totally didn’t see it coming that they are going to be suicide bombers… They were so normal
Amy: Me neither. I don’t think that the girl Said likes likes it very much.
Sharna: No. She doesn’t. It’s because her dad died blowing himself up. He is Said’s hero.
Amy: Yeah. It’s sad. She said she doesn’t care that he died as a hero, because she would rather him be alive.
Sharna: That’s really sad. They don’t really think about their family after they go through with the plan.
Amy: I know. I can’t imagine how the family would feel.
Sharna: Wait why would Said go to her at 4 in the morning to drop off the keys?
Amy: Probably because he couldn’t face saying goodbye to her. He likes her so much and he didn’t think that she would answer the door.
Sharna: Oh yeah. And if she was there, he probably wanted to talk about her father.
Amy: Too bad she didn’t like that very much. She thinks there are other ways to deal with the situation with Israel other than blowing themselves up.
Sharna: He thinks that it’s god’s will. He wants to keep the cause alive.
Amy: That’s ironic- “keeping the cause alive” means killing himself.
Sharna: Good call. How weird was seeing them give their statements?
Amy: Yeah. So weird. Khaled was reading off of a paper.
Sharna: Yeah. But then it wasn’t recording it so he did it a second time… And started talking about water filters?
Amy: Yeah. I think he realized what he was doing the second time. His fantasy was broken.
Sharna: I guess so. I think it was really weird that the others were eating pita casually while he was giving his last words.
Amy: I know! So weird! But I guess it’s because it’s their job. They do it every day.
Sharna: You’re right. But that’s so weird. Said and Khaled are about to kill themselves and they are just nonchalantly eating.
Amy: Yeah. I didn’t like when they were sending the boys off either.
Sharna: Me neither. They were completely chill with sending the boys off to their deaths. And when they asked what would happen if they were to die the guy completely couldn’t look them in the eyes.
Amy: I know.
Sharna: It’s because they really don’t know what happens. They know what they want to happen, that an angle comes and picks them up and flies them to heaven, but have no idea that it will… And if it doesn’t...is it a waste?
Amy: Yeah! Said seems really nervous about it. But it seems like Khaled just wants to be like James Bond.
Sharna: It’s like he thinks it’s a game.
Amy: Did you notice that the guy making the bombs had no hands.
Sharna: Yes! Sketchy.
Amy: Oh! You know what I realized. When they are eating it’s totally representing the last supper!
Sharna: Yeah! Oh also, even though the guys are hotter when they are clean shaven, it’s like they are losing all their character and are turning into robots to complete this task.
Amy: Yeah! It’s so sad when they get separated.
Sharna: I know! And when Khaled gets the bombs taken off of him and complains about the tape being ripped off.
Amy: And the guy’s just like: “oh well we never planned on taking it off”
Sharna: Weird! I totally thought that Said was going to go through with setting off his bomb!
Amy: Me too! Until he saw the kid on the bus…
Sharna: Yeah! He probably realized that this innocent child is not his enemy.
Amy: Probably. Well I hope that they reunite and don’t go through with their plan.
Sharna: Me too! And realize that they should be handling the situation in a different way.
Amy: I hope it works out!
Sharna: Same! I can’t wait to watch more! Oh and by the way.. how pretty is the girl Said likes?! She reminds me of that girl from the story book....you know the one.... whats her name...
Amy: CINDERELLA
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)