Free Zone (2005)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Amos Gitai

Writers:

Amos Gitai (writer)
Marie-Jose Sanselme (writer)

Release Date:

7 April 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

Two women embark on a road trip after they are brought together by circumstance. Rebecca (Portman) flees her hotel after a fight with her mother-in-law (Maura) and hails a taxi driven by Hanna (Lazlo).

Plot Keywords:

Jordan | Song | Israel | Terrorist | Arab Israeli Conflict

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Natalie Portman	...	Rebecca
Hana Laszlo	...	Hanna Ben Moshe (as Hanna Laszlo)
Hiam Abbass	...	Leila
Carmen Maura	...	Mrs. Breitberg
Makram Khoury	...	Samir aka "The American"
Aki Avni	...	Julio
Uri Klauzner	...	Moshe Ben Moshe
Liron Levo	...	Border Security
Tomer Russo	...	Border Security
Adnan Tarabshi	...	Petrol Station Owner
Shredi Jabarin	...	Walid (as Shredy Gabarin)
Kobi Lieber	...	Radio Narrator (voice)

Also Known As:

Free Zone (France)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Israel | Belgium | France | Spain

Language:

English | Hebrew | Arabic | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR | Stereo

Certification:

Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Brazil:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Free Zone, Jordan

Company:

Agat Films & Cie

Trivia:

A crowd of ultra-orthodox Jewish worshippers confronted Natalie Portman and her co-star Aki Avni, objecting to the couple kissing during the filming of a scene beside Jerusalem's Western Wall. The crowd charged and shouted "Immoral, immoral!" Police asked the actors to leave and return later, and they agreed.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When the vehicle is just approaching the border crossing near the end of the film (1:23:00 on the DVD) we can see the silhouette of someone wearing a baseball cap moving about in the back of the vehicle.

Quotes:

Hanna: I speak Arabic, I speak English, what language are you speaking ?

Soundtrack:

Had Gadia

My 2 cents

This is more of a response to the latest post by "Mrnaturalsez". I guess we are expected to take your word on a movie instead of the Cannes Film Festival and the Toronto Film Festival, which incidentally gave this move high praise. The film was an interesting, raw look at Jerusalem and Jordan as one would see it as a traveller. Plot has nothing to do with appreciating this movie, so I think you missed the mark. The story was used as a reason to explore the middle eastern culture. It was also interesting seeing Natalie Portman speak in her native Hebrew language. The film drew upon Portman's real life, as she was born in Isreal and had a Jewish father and American mother. Some films are watched for action, others for art, but I guess one will believe what one wants. There's my 2 cents.