Palestinian director Hany Abu-Assad promised us that in the case of his latest movie every scene is both believable and close to reality. That's why we're interested in Omar, which has been selected to be screened in the Un Certain Regard section at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Head inside to see some great images from the movie, and to find more details about this tragic love story.
“Paradise Now” helmer Hany Abu-Assad stands behind this Palestinian drama which revolves around three Palestinian childhood friends, including the titular Omar and a young woman named Nadia, who are torn apart in their fight for freedom.
Here's how director Abu-Asad described the whole thing:
“Omar actually believes in ideal love and believes in the possibility of a romantic comedy type of ending – this is why the film is doubly tragic. The main theme of Omar is trust and how it is very important for human relationships but also very volatile.”
Here's the official synopsis:
“Omar is accustomed to dodging surveillance bullets to cross the separation wall to visit his secret love Nadia. But occupied Palestine knows neither simple love nor clear-cut war. On the other side of the wall, the sensitive young baker Omar becomes a freedom fighter who must face painful choices about life and manhood. When Omar is captured after a deadly act of resistance, he falls into a cat-and-mouse game with the military police. Suspicion and betrayal jeapordize his longtime trust with accomplices and childhood friends Amjad and Tarek, Nadia's militant brother. Omar's feelings quickly become as torn apart as the Palestinian landscape. But it's soon evident that everything he does is for his love of Nadia.”
Shooting Omar took one week in Nablus, six weeks in Nazareth, and one week in Bisan.
Beside Adam Bakri who stars as the titular character, the rest of “Omar” cast includes Waleed Zuaiter, Samer Bisharat, Eyad Hourani and Leem Lubany.
At the end of this report, a little reminder – the 66th Cannes Film Festival runs from 15 to 26 May 2013.
