10. Omar (Hany Abu-Assad, 2013) Palestine
Omar is "noirish psychological thriller" from Palestinian director Hany Abu-Assad. It's his fourth feature film, and it won him the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Abu-Assad is otherwise best known for his Academy Award nominated film Paradise Now. Omar will be shown on Tues. 11 at 7:30PM, Wed. 12 at Noon and Sun. 15 at 9:30PM as part of the Special Presentation programme. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkCnA5UOI94 When the Separation Wall was built in the West bank, it split many towns in half, cutting Omar off from his friends Amjad and Tarek- forcing them to scale it every time they want to hang out. Omar is also in love with Tarek's younger sister. When a soldier is murdered, an Israeli officer who has it out for Omar, tricks him into becoming an informant- forcing him to choose between conflicting loyalties. The Globe & Mail has noted that this film is, "considered the first feature fully financed within the Palestinian cinema industry", which should be reason enough to support it- with hopes it will help their National cinema flourish. Other early Cannes reviews have mentioned how the film has a very overt anti-occupation message. Which is to be expected.