200 mètres

There are other good Palestinian movies that tackle the Palestinian question and its impact on the everyday life of people in the occupied territories. Examples of this are: Omar, Salt in This Sea, Tel Aviv on Fire and Pomegranates and Myrrh.

What makes 200 Meters stand out is the ironic realization, visually rendered, that only 200 meters separate husband from his wife and kids. But in order for him to be with them, he has to cross the border to be in Israel. But to do so, he has to have a permit. This is a reality which Mustafa accepts, if grudgingly.

The road trip that ensues for Mustafa and several others like him in the West Bank, who need to cross the border illegally, is the focus of the movie. This is where the drama comes in and the tension builds up.

Ali Suliman anchors the film and he portrays his role as the desperate father superbly. There is a big surprise at the end, and the viewer has to judge what to make of it. But I think the point of the writer/filmmaker is to show that even people with sympathies for Israel want to learn more about the Palestinian narrative as an impartial observer (and perhaps offer a solution) as it affects the daily life of people living beyond the wall.

Watch this film not only to be entertained, which it does, but to be reminded that the Palestinian problem begs for a fair solution.