Palestinian film takes political dispute to Hollywood

[Jefferson23]

Oscar-nominated 'Omar', filmed mostly in Nazareth, sparks debate as Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences present film's land of origin as 'Palestine.'

Associated Press
Published: 02.25.14, 21:53


In the Holy Land, the state of Palestine does not yet exist. But in Hollywood, it already has an Oscar finalist.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' announcement that "Omar," one of this year's candidates for best foreign language film, hailed from "Palestine" has raised eyebrows in these parts, where Israelis and the Palestinians are engaged in peace talks aimed at establishing just such a state.

For starters, much of the drama was shot in the Israeli city of Nazareth, home of director Hany Abu-Assad and many of the movie's actors, rather than in the West Bank, where much of the movie is set. In contrast, Abu-Assad's 2005 film "Paradise Now," which was also nominated for an Oscar, was billed at the time as coming from the "Palestinian Territories" to avoid the inevitable political saber-rattling over sovereignty.


The United Nations General Assembly's 2012 recognition of Palestine as a non-member state, over fierce Israeli objections, paved the way for the Academy to change its definition this time around. Abu-Assad also said the film qualified as such because it was the first to be almost completely financed by Palestinians. In any case, he added, the film's nationality, like his own, was a matter of identity, not geography.


"As long as we are under occupation, it doesn't matter what it is called," said Abu-Assad, 52, who, like many Israeli Arabs, considers himself Palestinian even though he holds Israeli citizenship. "That doesn't make us Israeli. As long as the state is exclusive, you can't identify with the state as long as it doesn't recognize you as equal."

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