Paradise Now

I really enjoyed watching the film Paradise Now which is a touching film that looks into the life of two friends Said and Khaled who were chosen to carry out a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv. At first the two young men are excited and honored that they have been chosen, but later struggle with actually carrying out the mission.

There were many things that I truly appreciated, as an American citizen I struggle to understand the reasons why anyone would want to carry out a suicide bombing and how the media makes it seem like suicide bombers take action without concern for there family. This film showed that "chosen" ones actually do struggle with accepting their fate and that it may appear to be an honorable act to die for their country or religion at first but as their final day draws nearer they actually struggle to convince themselves that what they are doing is right. Said and Khaled both show their emotions in their video to their separate families and as they are getting prepared with bombs. Which leads me to my next point...

I never knew how carefully suicide bombings are planned and the many steps it takes to prepare a bomber for their mission. Paradise Now did an excelent job showing the process it takes to prepare a bomber for their mission; both Said and Khaled are given neat haircuts and suits so they wont easily be spotted by enemies and completely shaved before the bomb is carefully placed on their chest area which if attempted to be self removed will explode anyways. I learned something here, that there is no way out. If a suicide bomber decides to re-nig on their decision they are doomed anyways because only a person who understands the construction of the bombs is able to dissemble them.

The movie ends with Said and Khaled being intercepted by Israeli troops and are seperated, and leaves the viewer to decide for themselves if they think the mission is eventually carried out or not. With the blinding white screen at the end I believe that they do end up carrying out the mission and the white light is the last thing Said and Khaled will ever see.