DIVINE INTERVENTION (YADON ILAHEYYA) European Showcase

Part parable, part experimental narrative, Elia Suleiman utilizes irreverence,w it, mysticism and insight to craft an intense, hallucinogenic and extremely adept exploration of the dreams and night· mares of Palestinians and Israelis living in uncertain times.

In the opening sequence, Santa Claus-with a basket of gifts on his back and a machete in his chest-is being pursued up a barren Palestinian desert hill by four boys. In another scene, after a suburban garden is firebombed, the owner casually strolls out with an extinguisher to handle this daily irritation. And, when a girl asks a policeman for directions, he forces a blindfolded, badly beaten man from the van to answer her query.

As a companion piece to his first film, DIVINITY GRATIS, Suleiman’s second film DIVINE INTERVENTION was one of the most talked about films at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. This is a work that challenges viewers and satiates sensibilities.