User Reviews

"Ma Salama Jamil" is a powerful "issue-film" in the vein of "In the Valley of Elah" in a way that it takes a very relevant current problem and attempts to inspect it from many angles - all in the disguise of an edgy thriller. Set in the Muslim community of Copenhagen, it relates the one-day journey of a young Sunni man, Jamil, who kisses good-bye to his small son and wife and goes to murder someone. He does this out of duty, as the murdered man had once killed Jamil's mother. His act triggers a spiral of ruthless violence and ultimately leads to unspeakable tragedy. The plot is basically it - very simple, straightforward and quite predictable. Everything: plotting, characterization and dialogue are secondary to theme and issue. The message is clear: religious antagonisms (in this case Sunni against Shia) are meaningless and violence breeds more violence. This is a theme worth exploring and it has to be expressed, but after a while its repetition gets somewhat annoying as the writers and director hit it home with the subtlety of a suicide bomb. (This is one aspect in which it is very similar to "Elah".) And yet the film works superbly. Despite its predictability, tension is still very high right until the end. Omar Shargawi is an incredibly gifted director and his DoP is similarly skilled. The film looks stunning. Acting is also top notch from Vin Diesel-lookalike Dar Salim in the titular role to the director himself in a small but important role. Shargawi prefers tight shots and quick cuts and hand-held photography reminiscent of Paul Greengrass' work. It heightens drama and adds urgency, on the other hand, gives little sense of where we are. The first indication that the story takes place in a European metropolis comes some 55 minutes into the film with a wide shot of a Copenhagen street. Similarly, we get very little sense of life in a Muslim community in a European city. Beyond the Sunni - Shia antagonism and the violence/revenge theme there is no real feel for how these people really live. As there are hints at an endlessly fascinating community, I felt disappointed it was not explored further. All in all, a great film, a superb debut for Shargawi which could have perhaps profited from deeper characterization and going beyond its main themes. I am looking forward to the writer/director's next project.

This tragic tale takes place in Denmark, almost completely in Arabic. The Lebanese Civil War and the culture of vendetta that it created run amok in the streets of Copenhagen. What I particularly enjoyed about this film was the way that it explored some of the more ridiculous elements of the Sunni Shia divide, as well a variety of hypocrisies that occur when people use their faith as an excuse and/or a weapon. Any Western Muslim with Old World connections (like myself) must see this film. There are a number of elements and scenes that will blow right over the heads of the people who are just seeing a brilliant tragedy of Shakespearean proportions playing out on the screen in front of them. That said, if you are just a guy that loves action films and doesn't give a rats ass about "nuances" or Shakespeare, you will love this savage burst of blood and adrenalin.

Jamil is a guy who believes he must hate some people. Jamil lives by the laws of revenge and hatred. Jamil's way of solving problems is wrong, but he doesn't see it. Not until after the damage is done.

There are many films about hatred and revenge, but very few of them as intense and nauseating as this one. As the film moves on it presses itself as a lead weight onto its audience by using quick moving action scenes and lifelike encounters between people that are driven toward only one thing: eradication of the other party. It doesn't let go until the ending credits roll by and even then it takes time to get back to reality.

The credits for this intensity lay by the actors that portray their characters completely believable and the use of dark and big grained imagery.

The film is very violent, but not so much that it becomes over the top. The violence is a necessity given the theme of the film and only adds to it, it never breaks down any of its value.

The only tiny thing I have against it is the fact that it is a bit predictable, but maybe that is just picking nits - everyone with a bit of a healthy mind can see where things are going after they start the way they do here.

9 out of 10 shattered lives

Extremely powerful and realistic portrait. The scene of revenge and repent in Sunni and Sjiit environment is played to perfection. The dialogs of the father and son are metaphoric for the decay of foregone Muslim virtues. The film is also thrilling through the up close cinematography. It is a must see for all people who are intrigued by the psychological mechanisms behind Muslim honor. Copmared to Gegen die Wand is this film the better counterpart. It does not romanticize blood revenge but displays its essence and roots. I am looking forward how the makers of this film will proceed in their work. Go with peace Jamil is a true masterpiece in documentary perspective as well as in artistic value.