Director: Hany Abu-Assad
Talent: Adam Bakri, Waleed Zuaiter, Leem Lubany, Samer Bisharat, Iyad Hoorani
Release Date: 30th May
For many Palestinians, the issue of “disputed territory” and the imposing West bank barrier are a factor of everyday life. “Occupation” may be a contested term, but the truth is large swathes of the population are trying to conduct their everyday lives under an openly hostile overseer government.
This is the setting for a Michael Mann-style thriller that follows the exploits of one youth as he struggles to contend with these hostile conditions and his own modest ambitions.
The most clever thing about this movie is its lack of clamouring for high drama. It’s unflinching in its depiction of the situation but also unsentimental. Naivety and assumptions are eroded as the twisting plot weaves a thick web of deceit and paranoia.
Good performances help, with the titular lead emanating charisma both somatically and emotionally. Omar isn’t really anything new in terms of its politics, but it is a solid thriller and a worthy entry in the conflict’s cinematic dialogue.
Words: Eoghain Meakin
For more film coverage this month, see our reviews of When I Saw You, Venus In Fur, A Million Ways To Die In The West, Edge of Tomorrow and Grace of Monaco.
