Divine Intervention

Overview

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

Cast

Elia Suleiman

E.S.

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Nayef Fahoum Daher

Father

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Manal Khader

The Woman

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George Ibrahim

Santa Claus

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Jamel Daher

Jamal

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Amer Daher

Auni

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Lutuf Nouasser

Neighbor with American van

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Riad Masarweh

Abu Basil

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Bassem Loulou

Abu Amer

Salwa Nakkara

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