Review – Omar
In this tense drama, Omar (Adam Bakri) and his childhood friends Tarek (Iyad Hoorani) and Amjad (Samer Bisharat) are betrayed by an informant after killing an Israeli soldier. Captured by the authorities and tricked into incriminating himself, Omar is faced with a choice: die in prison or become a collaborator himself. Trapped, Omar soon finds that he has nowhere to go and no one to trust.
Overlying and humanising the conflict is the sweet relationship between Omar and Tarek’s vivacious sister Nadia (Leem Lubany), built on surreptitious exchanges of love letters. Their undeniable chemistry is electrifying, but innocent. One of the most powerful scenes of the film comes when Omar can no longer summon the strength to scale the Israeli security wall separating their homes.
On one hand, Omar is a gritty, heart-rending tale of the West Bank. But more than that, Omar is a story of its people. People who want nothing more than to live their lives in peace. To love, to prosper, to share time with friends and family. But under occupation, what kind of life can they have?
To its credit, the film does not politicise the Israel/Palestine conflict. While instantly recognisable, the setting is universal. This story could have unfolded in any city under occupation at any time.
Ehab Assal’s cinematography is a highlight of the film. Each shot is a joy to behold, from the rugged concrete landscapes to the nail-biting chase scenes and the intimate close-ups. With tight direction and script from by Hany Abu-Assad, the tension never drops beneath a simmer.
It is no wonder that this film has earned a raft of international awards and nominations, including a Jury Prize (Un Certain Regard) win at Cannes and an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.
The almost painfully beautiful Adam Bakri shines in the eponymous lead role. Despite being tortured, betrayed, chased, repeatedly imprisoned, tricked, used, and unjustly accused, Omar retains an unfathomable sense of integrity. You really want him to win. Sadly, ‘winning’ would be nothing more than living an ordinary life. And, spoiler alert, there ain’t no Hollywood ending.
Omar is a taut and aesthetically stunning film that breaks your heart then smashes you in the face. It’s a tough story to take, but an important one.
Despite the awards, Omar has had very limited Australian release. The film was first brought to Adelaide at the Adelaide Film Festival 2013, then at OzAsia on Screen 2014. If you want to catch it, 14 September 2014 at Mercury Cinema may be your last chance. It’s one worth taking.
