A cross-conflict road movie set during the 1982 Lebanese war, Zaytoun gets
plenty right. For one, it looks fantastic, with cinematographer Dan
Laustsen lensing war-blasted cities and malignly mine-strewn countryside
in ever arresting ways. Also earning kudos are the strong central
performances: Stephen Dorff overcomes minor miscasting and an awkward
accent to deliver a nuanced turn as downed Israeli pilot Yoni, while
Abdallah El Akal out-thesps his older co-star as Palestinian orphan
Fahed, assuredly segueing from childish bravado into confusion and
sadness. Director Eran Riklis (Lemon Tree, The Syrian Bride)
too earns commendation for tactfully handling Palestinian/Israeli
tensions without pointing fingers or resorting to easy villains.
But while there’s no doubting Zaytoun’s good intentions, the
parts don’t hang together as a believable whole with characters
becoming conduits for unsubtle and corny moralising. Understanding thy
enemy and dissolving hatred via extensions of kindness are solid
lessons, but require a more convincing film than this to make them truly
hit home.
Out 8th April
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