In this fascinating film, Julian Schnabel (his mother was President of Hadassah in Brooklyn where he grew up) summons the courage to make a film (2010, Venice Film Festival) about the Arab-Israeli conflict from the standpoint of a Palestinian schoolgirl wirh Israeli citizenship. Based on the autobiographical novel by the stunningly beautiful Rula Jabreal (international journalist, author), this film was the focus of much criticism upon release. Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) plays Miral in an uncanny resemblance to Rula Jabreal. The film also features Willem Dafoe, a U.S. soldier stationed in Israel. More than anything, it is the story of Miral's relationship with her school teacher Hind Hussein (Hiam Abbass), who taught her how intelligent understanding of the world fosters tolerance. Schnabel's daughter Stella, plays Lisa, a jewish love interest of one of the Palestinians.
In a wonderful case of life imitating art, Rula Jebreal fell in love with Schnabel while filming, they were in a relationship 2007-2011. Schanbel is also an artist and is well known for his lavish 11th St apartment Palazzo Chupi in New York. Obscure Pete Townshend song "So Sad About Us" (Scoop album) appears in scene between Miral and Lisa.
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