Paradise Now : Mind of a Terrorist.

"Mindathiriyeda Njan ee dialogue onnu kettotte" (Keep quiet, let me hear this dialogue) I told Sobers who was happily commenting away. "Pinne ithennalle adutha examinu question varunnathu", (u are listening as if next exam is gonna have questions from this !) in came the prompt reply.

We were watching "Dil Se" from Mani ratnam, and I was intrigued to see if the dialogues could reveal the making of a terrorist. Though mani ratnam chose the subject well, I was disappointed at the lack of depth which was offered by the movie.

Though Terrorism is Nasty, I was always fascinated about what makes a terrorist, and what goes through their mind. How can a common man/women like we see on our every day lives, be ready to kill and for that matter die without fear?. Don't they ever think of their near & dear ones while preparing for such a mission?.

Paradise Now, the first Palestinian movie to have got an academy award nomination, looks into the mind of a suicide bomber, and in some depth.

shot in the dangerous locations of West bank, this movie revolves around two friends Said & Khaleed who are half heartily working in a car shop and is waiting for their mission to Israel. Misson?, Slip into Israel through the border and detonate the explosives strapped to their bodies in a bus.

Hany Abu-Assad, the director shows us the preparation, Propaganda and the glorification of a mission like this, through the conversations of Suha, the Western educated girl returning to West bank, he shows us the debate of the western view and that of the west bank.

When the initial mission goes bad at the Israeli border, Khaleed and Said have more time to reflect on what they are about to do.

The Peek into the Mind of khaleed reveals a man who is doing it for Glory and of his inherent beliefs against the occupation. Questions such as "Will you have big posters of me in the Town Center?" shows the west bank idea of prestige and the worshipping of the Martyrs.

For Said, It's redemption, Son of a man who was killed as a Traitor and is ashamed of this tag for his entire life, He is out to remove the shame of his families name. Even his soft corner towards Suha does not stop him from going ahead.

Watch it if you are interested to see how a system creates such men and what goes through their mind. You will be better informed of the west Bank conflict.