Rent Oslo on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: J.T. Rogers (screenplay by), J.T. Rogers (based on play by)
Directed by: Bartlett Sher
Starring: Ruth Wilson, Andrew Scott, David Olah, Sam Goldin
Rated: TV-MA
Watch the trailer
Plot
Recounts the true-life, previously secret, back-channel negotiations in the development of the pivotal 1990s Oslo Peace Accords between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization.
Verdict
It's a good historical movie and a nice peek behind the hurdles to peace, but I didn't find it very engaging. Talking about it and the points it raises is more fun than watching it. The goal is compelling, but I don't understand either side better. The people could be more compelling.
Skip it.
Review
This is behind the scenes look at how the Oslo Accords were formed, an agreement between Palestine and Israel.
Mona (Ruth Wilson) and Terje (Andrew Scott) decide to mediate peace, vowing to not interfere and just put the players in a room together. This mostly takes place in one room as two nations use back channels to find peace. Tensions are high and there's plenty of gamesmanship and ego.
This is a nice history movie that shows what it takes to overcome hurdles and obtain peace. Traditional methods create conflict. This seems like something that would make for a good play, a better play than movie. When I reached the credits I discovered it's based on the 2017 Tony Award-winning play by J.T. Rogers who wrote this screenplay.
This centers around a non-partisan couple that wants peace. We see Mona's flashback multiple times, but it seems pointless. It's the same old war type scen I've seen before. They are the audiences way in, but this doesn't do a good job of showing both Palestine and Israel. What are the differences that divide them? I want compelling people, not just a compelling goal. This is about peace, as ambiguous as that is. Disparate parties face many hurdles. This is certainly timely with what's going on in Israel and Palestine. I don't know if that's good or bad. Peace is fragile, difficult to reconcile.
Mona and Terje intended to just facilitate, but sometimes you have to step in to keep things on track. They interfere but for the right reasons.
No comments :
Post a Comment