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In the News this week again,the age old issue of Partition Plan for Palestine dating from 1947 but much earlier indeed.No need to rehash this origins or rights or wrongs of the issue but this movies focus unintentionally shows why the "other side"uses the methods it uses today.If you agree with what this movies shows,you must than NOT dismiss out of hand the other sides aspirations today.
Released in 1960 and running a little long 208 minutes I had to deduct 1 1/2 star for being dated fair acting and some lose plot details.
The films focus is on real events with fictional characters to dramatize the events beginning in 1947 that would shape the middle east to this day.A young widower who lost her correspondent husband to coverage of border clashes in the continuing conflict of ideas of the future of the area,visits a British General in Cyprus,who knew him well.Eva Marie Saint as Kitty Fremont the widow,is not great but ok in a major role.Ralph Richardson as Gen. Sutherland is better in this shorter but important role.The General suggests she help at a interment camp where Jews are being held because they are not being allowed into Palestine till the UN votes on partition.There she meets a young girl,
Jill Haworth playing Karen and a boy she's falls for Sal Mineo as Dov Landau and a elderly Dr played by Felix Aylmer as Dr. Lieberman.Through these characters Kitty becomes sympathetic to what Jews have just gone though in WW 11.
Add Paul Newman to the mix as fiery Ari Ben Canaan and love interest and we're on our way.
The story then shifts to the story of a boat bound for Palestine filled with Jews and detained by the British.It's a political stand as Ari informs Kitty,that maybe the world will hear if the Jews kill themselves rather than return to anywhere but the Holy land.All they have left is there own bodies.There is a short but powerful scene when a hunger strike is called and Ari wants the children released from the ship BUT their mothers won't allow them to go.
Later when the ship is freed and arrives in Haifa the movie takes on some soap opera tones using Ari's family as metaphors to examine the movements internal divisions. Great acting by Lee J. Cobb as Barak Ben Canaan,as Ari's Father.
NOTE to teabaggers,Barak is a RUSSIAN name with Muslim connotations.
As Baraks brother and Ari's uncle we have David Opatoshu as Akiva Ben Canaan a terrorist who has a wonderful scene where he is interviewing Dov to learn if he is telling the truth and worthy to be let into their cell.
Its hard to shrink the magnitude of the events into such a personnel story telling and thats why the film misses on some points.Still it is moving and shows how 64 years later the rolls may be reversing.OH and that music…………..
Trailer URL follows pix as usual.
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi386729753/
Released in 1960 and running a little long 208 minutes I had to deduct 1 1/2 star for being dated fair acting and some lose plot details.
The films focus is on real events with fictional characters to dramatize the events beginning in 1947 that would shape the middle east to this day.A young widower who lost her correspondent husband to coverage of border clashes in the continuing conflict of ideas of the future of the area,visits a British General in Cyprus,who knew him well.Eva Marie Saint as Kitty Fremont the widow,is not great but ok in a major role.Ralph Richardson as Gen. Sutherland is better in this shorter but important role.The General suggests she help at a interment camp where Jews are being held because they are not being allowed into Palestine till the UN votes on partition.There she meets a young girl,
Jill Haworth playing Karen and a boy she's falls for Sal Mineo as Dov Landau and a elderly Dr played by Felix Aylmer as Dr. Lieberman.Through these characters Kitty becomes sympathetic to what Jews have just gone though in WW 11.
Add Paul Newman to the mix as fiery Ari Ben Canaan and love interest and we're on our way.
The story then shifts to the story of a boat bound for Palestine filled with Jews and detained by the British.It's a political stand as Ari informs Kitty,that maybe the world will hear if the Jews kill themselves rather than return to anywhere but the Holy land.All they have left is there own bodies.There is a short but powerful scene when a hunger strike is called and Ari wants the children released from the ship BUT their mothers won't allow them to go.
Later when the ship is freed and arrives in Haifa the movie takes on some soap opera tones using Ari's family as metaphors to examine the movements internal divisions. Great acting by Lee J. Cobb as Barak Ben Canaan,as Ari's Father.
NOTE to teabaggers,Barak is a RUSSIAN name with Muslim connotations.
As Baraks brother and Ari's uncle we have David Opatoshu as Akiva Ben Canaan a terrorist who has a wonderful scene where he is interviewing Dov to learn if he is telling the truth and worthy to be let into their cell.
Its hard to shrink the magnitude of the events into such a personnel story telling and thats why the film misses on some points.Still it is moving and shows how 64 years later the rolls may be reversing.OH and that music…………..
Trailer URL follows pix as usual.
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