Palestine: Omar (2013)
It’s very hard to watch a film which is blatant propaganda and maintain a consistent response. I’ve tried throughout this journey to view all of the films on their own merits, while still being mindful of local differences. It’s as objective as I can be while still being subjectively me. A small film unit in the Congo is not going to have access to the same resources, funding or local experience as a film made in Europe. I have made allowances for that. But good storytelling should be the same no matter the budget, and that’s my baseline expectation.
And then I saw Omar.
I’m not going to claim detailed knowledge of the Israel/Palestine situation; I don’t have it. It’s something on the news, and that’s it.
A film from Palestine, then, would hopefully change that; it would give me insight into life in an occupied territory, would offer context and clarity and would provide balanced commentary and detail the moral complexity to enable me to understand the nuance better.
But it didn’t. Omar, instead, presented a straightforward drama/thriller which was completely lacking in insight. Oh, there were characters and plot, very much so, but the Israelis were outright villains: no attempt was made to present them as anything other than deceitful monsters, and the ending of the film was inevitable from the beginning. It was well made, yes, and the lead was (deliberately) likeable as Omar, but I was disappointed by how obvious all of this was, to the point that I was significantly less moved to side with the Palestinians against their oppressors.
The most frustrating part is that I really enjoyed this at the same time – it’s a great thriller. There are some strong narrative turns, a jaw-dropping revelation that sets the finale up quite nicely, and the cast were excellent, making the audience really care about their fates (which is, I suppose, the point of propaganda cinema), but I’m an awkward viewer – I don’t like being told how to feel. I want to feel it for myself. Take me on a journey, by all means, but show me everything, not just what you want me to see. Let me make up my own mind. Worst of all, propaganda cinema often tells you more than it means to, because it betrays the fears of the makers. That doesn’t happen here – it’s not even good propaganda. It’s basic. And I was hoping for more.
Disc: DVD (Region 2, UK)
Source: eBay
Availability: Widely available; other Regions (and Blu-ray) also available