Last Days in Jerusalem (2011) - Tawfik Abu Wael

Last Days in Jerusalem (2011) - Tawfik Abu Wael

 

When do you become an outsider in your own country? When you decide to leave, or only after you have taken the plunge, or never? And what if you don't leave after all? An interesting look at the Israel-Palestine situation via an Arab couple from Jerusalem on their way out of the country. The wall is everywhere in the background, but there is also a wall between them. On the surface, the film is about the couple, who keep separating from each other and keep coming back - not unlike some couple in some film by Michelangelo Antonioni. Deep within, it is also about separation from a country that is their homeland, but not quite theirs. It is not clear whether they belong together - neither the couple, nor them and the country they inhabit. And there are no solutions.

The Education (2011) - Dirk Lütter

The Education (2011) - Dir: Dirk Lütter

An intense exploration of the corporate office space. Nothing much happens, but the constant threat of being made redundant looms. Spying on your colleagues and reporting anything that may make them look bad to bosses is actively encouraged, which seems rather similar to the way KGB or the Stasi operated. The smallest bit of information that you provide may mean the loss of a much-needed job to someone. This affects the way people interact in the office environment. The icy cold, steel-grey palette used enhances the threat and plays down anything mildly warm. The only escape is shopping malls, gadgets and other objects of pleasure available, such as games. The few outdoor scenes provide only a limited relief to the characters and to viewers, which in turn enhances the claustrophobia of the work environment. A must-watch for service-sector employees and those who hope to boost their economic situation thanks to them.