Movie No. 48 (2014): OMAR

Omar (2013)
Director: Hany Abu-Assad
Cast: Adam Bakri, Leem Lubany, Iyad, Hoorani
In Arabic, with English subtitles

The main character, Omar, is a baker. In his free time he climbs the separation wall that divides the Israel-occupied and unoccupied Palestine, meets his girlfriend on the other side of the wall, and "trains" with his two childhood friends for an "operation" against Israeli soldiers.

The operation materializes. Omar is caught, put to jail, and is offered a "new life" in exchange of his confessing to the police the killer of an Israeli soldier in the garrison. This is the turning point of the lives of the three friends and of the people they care for.

Each of the important characters is well developed so that it's so easy to judge them or, sometimes, empathize with them. The separation wall itself is a prominent character that the other characters can't simple ignore in their daily existence. The script is able to convey an unforgettable tale of friendship and betrayal.

Rating: 4.0/4.0

Date seen: July 29, 2014