Omar

In Britain foreign language films are quite often underrated, under-appreciated and most certainly under-watched, but the intensity and passion exhumed from Omar give it the potential to change all that. Though you may have some preconceived notions about romance movies, Omar pushes the boundaries of the genre in a fiery tale of betrayal, oppression and divergence, set bang in the middle of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The outright unique movie follows a handsome, young Palestinian baker who agrees to work as an informant after he’s tricked into an admission of guilt in the wake of an Israeli soldier’s killing. While struggling with the ramifications of this decision he is also attempting to find a way to wed the love of his life, Nadia. But as we all know, love is an eternally complicated journey.

Adam Bakri (Omar) acts with such fervour and believability that you actually experience his emotions alongside him – a true rarity in the movie industry nowadays. Likewise, not a bad remark could be stated about the remainder of the cast’s acting abilities either, which is an even bigger rarity indeed.

Omar is by no means an easy watch, but assuredly it is one that will pull at your heart strings and educate you in the lives of those who reside in war-torn regions. Have you ever seen a movie that you simply couldn’t prise from your head afterwards? Omar is unquestionably one of those, and if you can eradicate any ignorance that you feel towards subtitles then you will wholly adore this movie.

Keira Trethowan

Omar is released nationwide on 30^th May 2014.

Watch the trailer for Omar here: