Director: Hany Abu-Assad.
Starring: Adam Bakri, Leem Lubany, Waleed Zuaiter, Samer Bisharat, Iyad Hoorani.
Running Time: 96 minutes.
Certificate: 15.
Synopsis: A Palestinian freedom fighter is forced to become an informant for the Israeli military, putting his relationship with his two oldest friends and the woman he plans to marry at risk.
OMAR, Hany Abu-Assad’s second Oscar-nominated feature, is a complementary piece to his 2005 film, PARADISE NOW. Hany introduces us to a world consumed by loyalty, deceit and betrayal, the Oscar-nominated film masterfully illustrating the daily struggles of life in the West Bank, all whilst depicting the harsh reality of Israeli occupation and the resistance to it. The Palestinian-born director delivers an exaggerated expression of what is an unfortunate reality.
The film tells the story of Omar (Adam Bakri) and his close friends Tarek (Iyad Hoorani) and Amjad (Samer Bisharat) who are militants affiliated with the Aksa Martyrs Brigade. They plan to show their loyalty by arranging to shoot an Israeli soldier. Of course the event – which was intended as an initiation into manhood – leads to a series of tragic events that mostly impact Omar. He is arrested, imprisoned, interrogated and beaten. Omar is then faced with a choice by Rami (Waleed Zuaiter), the Israeli officer handling his case, to either become an informant or spend the rest of his life in prison. Grasping at his opportunity for freedom, suspicion and betrayal soon jeopardise his relationships with girlfriend Nadia (Leem Lubany) and accomplices and childhood friends Amjad and Tarek, Nadia’s militant brother.
To read the full review click the link http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2014/05/15/omar-review/
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