Review: Free Zone

Israeli filmmaker Amos Gitai creates a feminist story in his latest movie, Free Zone. Shot mainly in Eastern Jordan, Gitai creates a tale of three women, an American, an Israeli, and a Palestinian whose lives become intertwined on a road trip from Israel to Jordan. Most of the action takes place in one car in a constant philosophical and political verbal exchange between these three women.

The story begins with an emotional song playing in the background, “Had Gadiah,” a Passover song which the audience hears while Natalie Portman (Rebecca) cries in the back of a taxi cab. She is completely distraught over the break up with her Israeli boyfriend and now has nowhere to go. The cab driver, Hanna Laslo (Hanna) hesitantly agrees to take her along to a meeting she must attend in Jordan. There she will meet a Palestinian businesswoman, Hiam Abbas (Leila). Initially, viewers do not know much about the women in the cab, their backgrounds or where they are going for that matter.

Director Amos Gitai Uses Symbolism

Since the film is not an action packed thriller, Gitai quickly engages his audience through symbolism and emotion. The cab can be considered a "lost country", challenging all characters to cooperate on the trip. Gitai intentionally begins their journey near the Wailing Wall, the ancient and highly symbolic religious shrine. By doing so, Gitai demonstrates the mental and physical endurance of the Wall, its historical role and sends and important message to the viewers about what kind of path these three women will take.

Effective flashbacks throughout the film and structurally bold dialogue create powerful scenes. While on the journey, each character experiences fragmented images and breathes in bittersweet memories. Faced with a world falling apart around them, they each focus on staying the course.

The characters are each so different that constant conflict arises throughout the trip. Hanna is going to meet with Leila to retrieve money for a business transaction owed to her husband. Rebecca, meanwhile is trying to understand her identity. Her father, an American married to a non-Jewish woman still makes her non-Jewish. However, she feels Jewish regardless of Jewish law. In Free Zone, Gitai captures the various facets of obstacles one faces in the eyes of others. Leila, a rather sophisticated, savvy businesswoman confronts her own demons and finds strength in Hanna and Rebecca.

Abrupt Ending

Their personal and political backgrounds often collide. However, the fascinating elements in the film manifest through their anger and ability to get along despite their obvious differences. At one point, the three begin singing to a folk song on the radio as though they are old friends. Instantaneously, the mood changes from tense to airy. Unfortunately, the plot is quite thin and road trip is aimless. Once the three are in the car, the arguing simply continues. The ending is too abrupt, almost disorienting.

One positive note about Gitai is in his message about women: “[They] are more practical than men, they try to get along."

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