Regular Egyptians finally have the chance to see the highly acclaimed and Oscar-nominated Palestinian film "Omar." The film, which was a hit when it was on the film festival circuit, was released in theatres across Egypt on May 20 for a two-week commercial run.
It is also hitting other regional theaters on May 21, including the UAE, Kuwait and Oman, according to MAD Solutions.
Although this is not the first time the film has been screened in Egypt and other Arab countries, it is the first time it'll be screened outside of cultural institutions and film festivals.
In addition to being Palestinian director Hany Abu-Assad's second Oscar-nominated film, the film won the Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and Best Film and Best Director at the 2013 Dubai International Film Festival. It was also officially selected at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.
A modern-day Romeo and Juliet, the film is both a love story and a gripping thriller about morality and betrayal. It follows the story of Omar, a Palestinian baker who routinely risks his life to meet his love Nadia, who lives on the other side of the wall. Like any Palestinian film, "Omar" is political, but Abu-Assad highlights the nuances of the occupation rather than beating you over the head with it.
The film has gotten overall excellent reviews, with Howard Feinstein of Filmmaker Magazine calling its “unpredictable” events “pure genius.” It has been certified “fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes with the critics’ consensus being: “Twisty and riveting, Omar is a well-directed crime drama with uncommon depth.”
Abu-Assad, who previously won a Golden Globe award for his first Oscar-nominated film Paradise Now, recently finished filming the much- anticipated film based on the life story of Mohammed Assaf. Assaf became internationally famous in 2013 after being the first Palestinian to win Arab Idol during the series’ second season.