Julian Schnabel's "Miral" was shown recently on cable. Not having seen it before, we decided to take a chance. The director whose previous work showed a rare quality in telling a story, working on Rula Jebreal's novel and with a screenplay by the author, takes a look at recent history, analyzing it from the less popular side of the Palestinians, who have lived in conflict after the creation of the state of Israel in 1947.
The story deals with a kind hearted lady, Hind Husseini, who is surprised to find a large amount of orphans roaming the streets. She takes the children into her home, and later creating a school in which to educate and house the young innocent victims. Hind's life was given to help the unfortunate children that came into her school and her life.
Miral, a young woman, was the product of the system Ms. Husseini created. Unfortunately, she gets to witness, first hand, the way her fellow Palestinians were being treated by the Israelis. In fact, Miral falls in disgrace when the man she falls in love with, forces her to carry a device which fortunately does not explode. Her life changes instantly as she has to experience the way she is treated and abused by the Israelis.
Mr. Schnabel's sympathies are with the Palestinians, something that he has not been able to avoid in the way he presents the material. The many years of fighting between Israel and its neighbor has produced wounds that are hard to heal. The film ends with the Oslo Peace Accords of 1993 in which some hope for peace seemed possible, something that in real life never happened.
The wonderful actress Hiam Abass is seen as Hind, although she is only seen briefly as she goes from a young woman to her death. Freida Pinto, the Indian actress does what she can with a role that should have been played by a young Palestinian actress. There are familiar faces among the cast. Vanessa Redgrave and William Dafoe are seen in minor roles.
The story deals with a kind hearted lady, Hind Husseini, who is surprised to find a large amount of orphans roaming the streets. She takes the children into her home, and later creating a school in which to educate and house the young innocent victims. Hind's life was given to help the unfortunate children that came into her school and her life.
Miral, a young woman, was the product of the system Ms. Husseini created. Unfortunately, she gets to witness, first hand, the way her fellow Palestinians were being treated by the Israelis. In fact, Miral falls in disgrace when the man she falls in love with, forces her to carry a device which fortunately does not explode. Her life changes instantly as she has to experience the way she is treated and abused by the Israelis.
Mr. Schnabel's sympathies are with the Palestinians, something that he has not been able to avoid in the way he presents the material. The many years of fighting between Israel and its neighbor has produced wounds that are hard to heal. The film ends with the Oslo Peace Accords of 1993 in which some hope for peace seemed possible, something that in real life never happened.
The wonderful actress Hiam Abass is seen as Hind, although she is only seen briefly as she goes from a young woman to her death. Freida Pinto, the Indian actress does what she can with a role that should have been played by a young Palestinian actress. There are familiar faces among the cast. Vanessa Redgrave and William Dafoe are seen in minor roles.