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role
Joshua Herzog
production
Directed by Costa-Gavras
Written by Costa-Gavras and Franco Solinas
Universal Pictures, 1983
Cast: Jill Clayburgh, Gabriel Byrne, Jean Yanne
synopsis
In this political drama, Hanna Kaufman, a Jewish-American attorney, must defend Selim Bakri, a young Palestinian suing Israel for the right to live on his Left Bank ancestral land. The government’s lawyer, a cocky Israeli attorney, is Hannah’s lover and the father of her unborn child. Conflict ensues when Hannah and Selim also become lovers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
trailer (in French)
video
promotional images
interviews
Interview at Valladolidwebmusical.org (in Spanish)
reviews
Costa-Gavras and Franco Solinas, who wrote the film, appear to have been too intimidated or, maybe, too baffled by the complexity of Arab-Israeli relations to be decisive in any way whatever. Everything about the film is halfhearted, including the way in which the film makers dramatize what they take to be Israel’s paranoia about Arabs. They characterize Selim as a victim of that paranoia, but they are never unequivocal about his innocence.
As so often happens in a film in which the characters have been manufactured to fit the plot, none of the performers is especially compelling. They are messengers not characters – mouthpieces for dopey dialogue.
official posters
dvd
more resources
The film contained a number of aesthetic problems and Hanna’s personal life at times overshadowed and muddled the political aspects of the story. Nevertheless, as Edward Said, Parr Professor of English Literature at Columbia University, commented: “As a political as well as cinematic intervention, then Hanna K. is a statement of a great and I believe, lasting significance.” [Edward Said’s review of Hanna K., The Village Voice, Oct. 11, 1983, p. 45]
Thanks to Stephanie for the interview link.