Free Zone
(aka Freezone/2005/New
Yorker/DVD-Video)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: C Film: B
Natalie
Portman has been getting picked on for being pretty and from critics still
bashing her work in the Star Wars prequels, but in real life, she is being one
of the smartest actresses in her generation by taking on roles that require
risks. After exceptional work in Closer and V For Vendetta (reviewed in high definition formats elsewhere on
this site), she plays the American in Israel Rebecca in Amos Gitai’s Free Zone (2005), from the acclaimed
director of Kadosh and Kippur.
She is
joined native Israeli Hanna (Hana Laszlo) on the way to Jordan where they meet
Leila (Hiam Abbass) from Palestine and yes, she is a native Palestinian. Another “American” owes Hanna money, but
Leila lets them know the cash and man are missing. Leila is brought into the cab and the three
go on a journey to find both, but that is nothing as compared to what this road
movie is out to say and do.
The
result is a clever microcosm of the women from the three countries and Gitai’s
screenplay (co-written with Marie-Jose Sanselme) is very smart, mature, funny,
patient, observant and witty. The three
leads have great chemistry, with Portman holding her own very nicely in a role
where she could have been eclipsed. I
found this very real and palpable, as well as one of the few films about the
current Middle East/World situation that will endure in the years to come. The only flaw is that the film does not run
long enough as there is so much more to say.
All three are so good in their roles that it makes for one of Gitai’s
best films and is definitely recommended.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is softer than usual with aliasing
errors ands a consistent softness that makes this look like video more than
film, though it may be a PAL-to-NTSC mis-conversion issue. The actual camerawork by Laurent Brunet holds
shots for longer times than most films even attempt, enhancing the narrative
nicely. The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is
rare for any New Yorker title, but is just a spreading out of the basic stereo
as heard in the alternative Dolby Digital 2.0 mix also available. Extras include the original theatrical
trailer and an audio interview with Gitai.
More would have been nice, but the film is enough.
- Nicholas Sheffo
