What is humor? Is it the little absurd moments in daily life or something more? For Palestinian director Elia Sulieman humor can be found anywhere, even when you live in an area occupied by another country. His film "Divine Intervention" uses humor to comment on life in the Israeli occupied Palestine. The opening scene establishes the tone for the remainder of the film: a rocky hillside is shown. Then the camera follows a man dressed as Santa who is running up the hill. He is followed by three men. Ocassionally "Santa" turns around and throws candy at his pursuers, which only slows him down. As he reaches the top of the hill, he tries to seek refuge inside the building (which looks like a church of some kind) situated there, but his quest is ended when he is impaled with a knife. Overall the scene is funny, but it is a dark humor.
The scenes of the film are long looks at a character or event, but Sulieman wisely splits these scenes and intersperses them throughout the film. At first it is hard to follow, but the pattern becomes more apparent the longer you watch. Each of these scenes are a snapshot of life, but unlike a photograph which can only show one perspective, we are able to see multiple views and laugh at the absurdity of the moments. Also, each scene is like a poem...Poems are snapshots of life. The life can be real or a figment of the author's imagination. Regardless of its truth and origin, poetry is making a statement about life and belief, specifically those of the speaker. It can be broken apart and analyzed until nothing remains, but the meaning of the poem and the way it affects you change over time. I see "Divine Intervention" as a collection of connected poems. Each scene is a snapshot of E.S.'s world (the main character). The details of the scenes are what make them beautiful and funny, despite their bleak surroundings. In poems there isn't much dialogue, it's more about the the experience and language of the poet than the spoken words of the characters. More than anything i can appreciate this film as a journey of the imagination. The absurd scenes, the ones that are physically impossible, remind me of daydreams when anything is possible and just thinking about the "justice" that will be served is the most satisfying experience. I know it's not realistic, but that's what makes it appealing.
At the heart of the film, "Divine Intervention" is a love story (no pun intended): the story of E.S. (played by director Sulieman) and the unnamed woman he loves (Khader) who cannot be together. They are separated by an Israeli controlled checkpoint. Every day they drive to the checkpoint and sit in E.S.'s car, dreaming about crossing the border and being together, although this does not happen in the film.
Divine Intervention [Yadon ilaheyya](2002) 92 minutes
Director: Elia Sulieman
Starring Elia Sulimean as E.S.
Manal Khader as the Woman
NOTE: the film is Palestinian, so the film is in Arabic. There is minimal dialogue, which allows you to watch the film instead of starring at the subtitles at the bottom.
Rent it mutliple times: this film is complex and you need to see it at least twice before you can fully appreciate the film
Dude, it's quotable: ok, there isn't much dialogue, but this is my highest personal rating
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