Face in the Crowd (2013)

Overview
"Face in the Crowd" is a 2013 French drama film directed by Mohamed Bakri, who is a well-respected figure in the Arab movie theater world. The movie, originally entitled "Un Visage dans la Foule", primarily highlights the mission for identity and belonging.

Plot
The film tells the story of a Palestinian family living in various parts of the world, catching their specific struggles and shared yearning for their homeland. The narrative is drawn from a range of perspectives that are strung together to form an intense portrait of a dispersed family. Their fate is spread from Ramallah to Paris, while they aim to connect to their private and collective identity.

Stimulating a psychological reaction, the film presents the complex lives of the Suleiman member of the family, who discover themselves captured in a tug-of-war in between their homeland and the cultures of the nations they presently live in. It spotlighted the plight of the Palestinian people, keeping a delicate balance between political scenarios and human stories.

Characters
Luay, the eldest boy, lives in Ramallah, the de facto administrative capital of Palestine. He is patriotic and dreams of fighting for his homeland. Mourad, the second boy, lives in Jordan, having actually completely cut off all affiliations with Palestine. The 3rd child, Soraya, resides in Paris. She experiences an id, being torn between her Palestinian roots and French training.

Their father, Ramzi, a renowned actor, takes a trip the world, attempting to hang on to his Palestinian identity, while their mother, Bahia, resides in the town of Nazareth. She seems uncertain and anxious about her children's future, especially Soraya, who seems quite unsteady due to her dual cultural belonging.

Styles and Symbolism
"Face in the Crowd" is a poignant representation of identity and belonging. The film navigates the emotional terrain of the characters, highlighting their battles for identity, the yearning for their homeland, their diasporic presence, and the struggle to adapt to their host countries. The family's dispersed places signify the Palestinian diaspora and the fragments of their homeland that they carry with them.

Style and Execution
The movie leverages visual storytelling, using diverse landscapes and interiors to echo the character's internal states. Despite its heavy themes, "Face in the Crowd" keeps a crisp story, drawing audiences into the protagonists' experiences.

The director, Mohamed Bakri, deals with the myriad of narratives with accuracy, guaranteeing that each tale is offered its due time and impact over the narrative. He masterfully catches the dichotomy of the characters' lives - their external normalcy and the troubled identity crisis brewing underneath.

Conclusion
"Face in the Crowd" is a heartfelt expedition of cultural identity, belonging, and the longing for homeland, while stressing the battles and accomplishments of the Palestinian diaspora. It stands as a plain depiction of the emotional disturbances and disputes that individuals need to go through when they are caught in between dual cultures and identities. It is more than just a representation of a divided Palestinian household; it is a sign of all households, of any origins, who have actually discovered themselves dispersed, yet clinging to the fragments of their identity.

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