ODEM (LIPSTIKKA)

Israel, 2011, 90 minutes, Colour.
Clara Khoury, Nataly Attiya.
Directed by Jonathan Sagall.

An Israeli story of two Palestinian women. The action shifts from the present in London to the past in Palestine in the late 1980s (Lethal Weapon is screening.) We shift from the memories of Lara to those of Inam, finally realising that we have to be alert as to what is being truly remembered and what is being imagined.

Lara has settled into a life in London with a caring but unfaithful husband. She has a son. Inam suddenly turns up and intrudes as well as making herself at home at Lara's. It is clear that she is not welcome, though Lara's attitudes seem ambiguous - resolved rather more clearly in the final minutes of the film which makes a great deal of sense of what we have seen and might have puzzled over.

In the flashbacks, Lara is a quiet, heavy set girl, best friend of the ultra-outgoing Inam, a girl who easily gets herself into trouble with boys and with Israeli soldiers. Claire Khoury and are persuasive as the older women and the two younger actresses more than resemble the older versions of their characters.

Much may not seem so consequential while on screen, but gives rise to reflections afterwards.

1. The impact in Israel? For Palestinians? The portrait of Palestinian women? 1980s and the present?

2. The Palestinian territories in the 1980s, poverty, homes, streets, advertisements, school, the Israeli soldiers in the streets?

3. The contrast with London in the 21st century, fashionable, homes, streets, schools, affluence?

4. The musical score and the variety of moods?

5. The perspective throughout the film, changing as the flashbacks change, seeing the institution at the end? Asking what actually happened in the past? To Lara? To Inam? What is happening in the present?

6. Lara and her voice-over, her comments about her marriage, her husband’s affair, keeping house, respectability, her son? A comfortable life which she would continue?

7. Her birthday party, behaviour, Michael’s presence?

8. Inam and her arrival, early, birthday greetings, intruding, eating, stealing the chocolate, in the bathroom, intending to steal? Wanting to see James? Lara’s reactions, driving to the school and Inam accompanying her? Inam and the shower, Michael seeing her in the room, his not doing anything? The man repairing the dishwasher? Inam stealing the van? Going to pick up James? Taking him?

9. Inam’s flashbacks, as a girl, with the boys after school, sex, bravado, with the Israeli soldiers, taunting them, the sexual encounter? The contrast with Lara as shy and quiet? The later flashback and the truth about her encounter with the soldier, his brutality?

10. Their both going to the UK, Lara’s arrival, awkward, Inam and her poise, the classes and their talk, the encounter with Brian, meeting Michael, Michael and Inam, his kissing Lara? In whose flashback?

11. Lara and her age in the present, poise, marriage, keeping the house, loving her son, going to the school, well known, coping with Inam, Inam’s story of her husband, pregnancy, hair stylist? Lara’s search for her, going to the school, finding James looking after Inam?

12. The institution, Yolanda on the staff, Aaron? Inam’s continual escapes, going to Lara’s house? Lara bringing her back? Her kindness?

13. Lara’s final comment about accepting life, audience reflecting on the lives of Lara and Inam after these events?