I heard heard good things about this film, but having a quick peek on IMDB to read the first user review giving it 1/10, I had my reservations.
These were quickly dispelled as I felt myself being taken into the life of Mustufa and his family (Mustufa is brilliantly acted by Ali Suliman)
The movie has wonderful cinematography, showing the harsh yet warm scenery beautifully, with tender music accompanying the scenes to pull heart stings when required, but not to over sensationalise it.
As someone with no skin in the game for either side, I thought it was an extremely fair and balanced portrayal of the struggles of Palestinian families living in and around the West Bank and travelling through checkpoints daily.
Whatever you think of the situation, I would look at this film with open eyes, and you will be pleasantly surprised.
After the film finished, I checked IMDB to see who had directed it, and was more than surprized to find it was also a feature film directorial debut from the writer Ameen Nayfeh.
Looking forward to more of her films!
Plot summary
Mustafa and his wife Salwa come from two Palestinian villages that are only 200 meters apart, but separated by the wall. Their unusual living situation is starting to affect their otherwise happy marriage, but the couple does what they can to make it work. Every night, Mustafa flashes a light from his balcony to wish his children on the other side a goodnight, and they signal him back. One day Mustafa gets a call that every parent dreads: his son has been in an accident. He rushes to the checkpoint where he must agonizingly wait in line only to find out there is a problem with his fingerprints and is denied entry. Desperate, Mustafa resorts to hiring a smuggler to bring him across. His once 200-meter journey becomes a 200-kilometer odyssey.
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Touching & Heartfelt
A Day in the Life of Mustafa
There are other good Palestinian movies that tackle the Palestinian question and its impact on the everyday life of people in the occupied territories. Examples of this are: Omar, Salt in This Sea, Tel Aviv on Fire and Pomegranates and Myrrh.
What makes 200 Meters stand out is the ironic realization, visually rendered, that only 200 meters separate husband from his wife and kids. But in order for him to be with them, he has to cross the border to be in Israel. But to do so, he has to have a permit. This is a reality which Mustafa accepts, if grudgingly.
The road trip that ensues for Mustafa and several others like him in the West Bank, who need to cross the border illegally, is the focus of the movie. This is where the drama comes in and the tension builds up.
Ali Suliman anchors the film and he portrays his role as the desperate father superbly. There is a big surprise at the end, and the viewer has to judge what to make of it. But I think the point of the writer/filmmaker is to show that even people with sympathies for Israel want to learn more about the Palestinian narrative as an impartial observer (and perhaps offer a solution) as it affects the daily life of people living beyond the wall.
Watch this film not only to be entertained, which it does, but to be reminded that the Palestinian problem begs for a fair solution.
Political propaganda movie
Simply fueling the false picture of the evil israelis, this is nothing but false propaganda to try gain attention of stuff that doesn't exist..