Watch Free Zone

Free Zone is a 2005 drama film directed by Israeli filmmaker Amos Gitai. The movie features an impressive cast, including Natalie Portman, Hana Laslo, and Hiam Abbass. The plot follows the story of two women who embark on a journey through Israel's Free Zone, a tax-free area close to the country's borders. The movie explores themes of love, loss, and redemption against the backdrop of conflicts in the Middle East.

The film opens with a young American woman named Rebecca (Natalie Portman) arguing with her fiancé in a hotel room in Jerusalem. She decides to take a taxi to the Free Zone, hoping to recover some money that her ex-business partner, a Palestinian woman named Leila (Hiam Abbass), owes her. Rebecca hires a taxi driver named Hanna (Hana Laslo), who agrees to take her to the Free Zone in Jordan.

As they drive through the desert, the women have a chance to get to know each other. Hanna is a tough, no-nonsense woman who has seen her share of hardship, having served in the Israeli army. Rebecca is a young, idealistic woman who is determined to reclaim what she believes is rightfully hers. Despite their differences, the women begin to bond over their shared experiences of love and loss.

When they arrive at the Free Zone, they find that Leila has gone missing. The area is tense, with Palestinian and Israeli authorities both keeping a close eye on the border. Rebecca and Hanna soon find themselves caught up in the local conflict, as they try to locate Leila and recover the money that Rebecca is owed. Along the way, they encounter a range of local characters, including a Palestinian smuggler and an elderly Israeli couple who have come to the Free Zone to bury their son's ashes.

Despite the challenges they face, Rebecca and Hanna continue to work together to achieve their goal. In the process, they come to understand each other's perspectives and learn to see beyond the conflict that has divided their people for generations. As they journey through the Free Zone, they confront their own hopes and fears, and slowly begin to heal the wounds of the past.

The film's cinematography is stunning, capturing the stark beauty of the desert landscape and the crowded chaos of the Free Zone. The performances are also impressive, with Natalie Portman displaying a range of emotions as the determined Rebecca, and Hana Laslo bringing a quiet strength to the role of Hanna.

Free Zone is a thoughtful and engaging film that explores some of the most challenging issues facing the Middle East today. Its focus on the human stories behind the conflict is a powerful reminder of the need for compassion and understanding in the face of divisiveness and hatred. Overall, this is a film that is sure to leave a lasting impression on viewers long after the credits have rolled.

Free Zone is a 2005 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.7 and a MetaScore of 51.