Watch Divine Intervention

Divine Intervention is a 2002 Palestinian-French film directed and starring Elia Suleiman. The film follows the story of a Palestinian man living in Nazareth, who is in a relationship with a woman from Ramallah, but both are hindered from crossing the border between their two cities due to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

The film is divided into a series of vignettes that are connected thematically rather than narratively. The vignettes range from comedic to tragic, from political to personal, but all are deeply rooted in the reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For example, a couple has a conversation while standing 10 meters apart from each other, using bullhorns to communicate because they are forbidden from approaching each other. Another scene depicts a group of children throwing rocks at Israeli soldiers.

The film also explores the daily lives of Palestinians living under occupation, such as when a man tries to drive his car through a checkpoint and is repeatedly searched and harassed by soldiers. There is also a scene where a man is shot by soldiers for throwing a stone at a checkpoint.

One of the most memorable scenes in the film is a satirical depiction of a checkpoint where the soldiers have a dance-off with a Palestinian man blasting Arabic music from his car. The scene is strange and absurd but embodies the ways that Palestinians resist and cope with living under occupation.

The film's main storyline follows the protagonist's attempts to court his girlfriend, who lives in Ramallah. The two communicate through a shared binoculars and attempt to meet at different locations along the border, but are always stopped by Israeli soldiers. Their love story is both romantic and deeply sad, as their relationship is hindered by forces beyond their control.

The film is shot with a minimalist style, using long takes and static shots to capture the mundane and the surreal. The characters often speak in silences, letting their facial expressions and body language do the storytelling. This style of filmmaking allows the viewer to feel the weight of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict without being bombarded by heavy-handed exposition.

Ultimately, Divine Intervention is a film about the absurdity and tragedy of living under occupation. The film does not offer easy answers or solutions to the conflict, but instead shows the humanity of everyday Palestinians trying to live their lives in a deeply challenging environment. The film is both hilarious and deeply moving, and a must-watch for anyone interested in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or the art of cinema.

Divine Intervention is a 2002 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 74.