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Play trailer Poster for Private 2004 1h 33m Drama War Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 33 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Mohammed (Mohammed Bakri), a Palestinian teacher, lives with his family in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. When violence erupts near their house, Mohammed refuses to evacuate, despite the fears of his wife, Samia (Areen Omari). Israeli soldiers occupy the residence's top floor, arousing the hatred of their son, Yusef (Amir Hasayen), and daughter, Mariam (Hend Ayoub), who spies on the men. Despite being given freedom to leave, Mohammed insists that his family stick together in their house.
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Critics Consensus

Italian director Saverio Costanzo delivers a gritty and intimate drama about how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict affects a Palestinian family and the Israeli soldiers occupying their home.

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Critics Reviews

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John Hartl Seattle Times A sketchy but compelling Italian movie about Middle East power struggles. Rated: 3/4 Apr 7, 2006 Full Review Empire Magazine The script is occasionally heavy-handed in laying out motivation and meaning, but excellent performances from the Israeli-Palestinian cast and a chilling moral elevate this to more than 'issue film' status. Rated: 3/5 Apr 1, 2006 Full Review Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle Costanzo's debut feature film is potent stuff. Rated: 3/5 Mar 18, 2006 Full Review Tom Dawson The List Shooting with hand-held digital video cameras, Costanzo achieves a powerful immediacy, particularly when conveying the chaos and terror of the nighttime raids endured by the family. Rated: 4/5 Apr 24, 2019 Full Review Sean Axmaker Seattle Post-Intelligencer ... as politically defiant a metaphor for Israeli-Palestinian relations in the occupied territories as you'll ever see on screen. Rated: B Apr 6, 2006 Full Review Steve Schneider Orlando Weekly The movie is more noteworthy for the intimate suspense it brings to the subject of Israeli occupation than for any dramatic conclusion it chooses to reach. Mar 9, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member This film left me speechless with joy afterwards, it completely blew me away...one of the most incredibly tense films Ive ever watched...please, anyone who loves films find it and cherish it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member what u see in the movie is what u see in real life - pain that innocent palastinian n israeli people been going thru Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a non artistic movie but a consiousnes of the meaning of the human fact and human issue that are behind the wars and occupation forces. Focused in the Israel-Palestine´s conflict, the italian director Saverio Constanzo makes a pretty balance film without using, the Manichean perspective and the pittyness, a pretty good movie about the people who really are facing the conflicts. The ordinary people and the militar and human factor of the "enemy" soldiers who also carry stories and in certain way had been programed through speeches and had been involved on the army by economical necesities of their family. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Gran film, coraggioso, pieno di tensione e girato molto bene. Da vedere, una piccola perla. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Very thought provoking--I highly recommend it. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Politically: full of stereotypes about the conflict, lacking historical reflection, some but stereotypes not met: the evil Jewish soldiers had no glasses and no big nose. A nightmare. Technically: Come one, "Dogma"-movies can be much more interesting... Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Mohammed (Mohammed Bakri), a Palestinian teacher, lives with his family in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. When violence erupts near their house, Mohammed refuses to evacuate, despite the fears of his wife, Samia (Areen Omari). Israeli soldiers occupy the residence's top floor, arousing the hatred of their son, Yusef (Amir Hasayen), and daughter, Mariam (Hend Ayoub), who spies on the men. Despite being given freedom to leave, Mohammed insists that his family stick together in their house.
Director
Saverio Costanzo
Producer
Mario Gianani
Screenwriter
Saverio Costanzo, Sayed Qashua, Camilla Costanzo, Alessio Cremonini
Production Co
Istituto Luce Cinecittà, RAI Cinema, Offiside
Genre
Drama, War
Original Language
Arabic
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Nov 17, 2005
Release Date (DVD)
Jun 6, 2006
Runtime
1h 33m
Sound Mix
Dolby