Divine Intervention

Story

Synopsis

Santa Claus tries to outrun a gang of knife-wielding youth. It's one of several vignettes of Palestinian life in Israel - in a neighborhood in Nazareth and at Al-Ram checkpoint in East Jerusalem. Most of the stories are droll, some absurd, one is mythic and fanciful; few words are spoken. A man who goes through his mail methodically each morning has a heart attack. His son visits him in the hospital. The son regularly meets a woman at Al-Ram; they sit in a car, hands caressing. Once, she defies Israeli guards at the checkpoint; later, ninja-like, she takes on soldiers at a target range. A red balloon floats free overhead. Neighbors toss garbage over walls. Life goes on until it doesn't.

Director

Elia Suleiman

Writers

Elia Suleiman

Language

Arabic

Country

Germany, France, Morocco, Palestinian Territory, Netherlands

Release date

2 October 2002

Ensemble

Cast

• 

  Elia Suleiman

  E.S.

• Nayef Fahoum Daher

  Father

• Manal Khader

  The Woman

• George Ibrahim

  Santa Claus

• Jamel Daher

  Jamal

• Amer Daher

  Auni

• Lutuf Nouasser

  Neighbor with American van

• Riad Masarweh

  Abu Basil

• Bassem Loulou

  Abu Amer

• 

  Salwa Nakkara

  Adla

• Naaman Jarjoura

  Uncle

• Rana Nashashibi

  Um Elias