Synopsis

Santa Claus tries to outrun a gang of knife-wielding youth. It's one of several vignettes of Palestinian life in Israel - in a neighborhood in Nazareth and at Al-Ram checkpoint in East Jerusalem. Most of the stories are droll, some absurd, one is mythic and fanciful; few words are spoken. A man who goes through his mail methodically each morning has a heart attack. His son visits him in the hospital. The son regularly meets a woman at Al-Ram; they sit in a car, hands caressing. Once, she defies Israeli guards at the checkpoint; later, ninja-like, she takes on soldiers at a target range. A red balloon floats free overhead. Neighbors toss garbage over walls. Life goes on until it doesn't.

Dec 3, 2023 at 08:30 AM

Original title: يد إلهية‎

Released: Oct 2, 2002

Studios: Ognon Pictures, ARTE France Cinéma, Gimages Films, Soread-2M, Lichtblick Film, Hubert Bals Fund

Countries: France, Morocco, Germany, Netherlands, Palestinian Territory