PEACE AFTER MARRIAGE/ONLY IN NEW YORK
US, 2012, 85 minutes, Colour.
Ghazi Albuwilli, Hiam Abbas, Thom Bishops.
Directed by Bandar Albuwili, Ghazi Albuwili.
Peace after Marriage/Only in New York is a rather unexpected comedy. Its alternate title was rather meaningful, Peace after Marriage, highlighting the antagonism between Arabs and Jews.
But, only in New York could a sex-addicted Palestinian, who turned down all the arranged marriages his parents engineered, experience a green card situation but with the girl being Israeli. The hero, Arafat, is often a forlorn character, caught in his sex addiction, going to meetings, getting a partner who could help him, mainly with picking up girls, but arranging the situation for the green card.
Arafat is attracted to the girl who wants to marry someone back in Israel. However, being together, they fall in love – with the dilemma of the girl going back to Israel and not knwoing what will happen with Arafat.
Ghazi Abuwili is a stand-up comedian, evident in the way that he performs for his oddball and forlorn character. Of interest is his mother, played by Palestinian actress Hiam Abbas, a fine actress, well-known in international films, especially The Visitor and The Lemon Tree.
1. The two titles, the irony, the focus on New York and its lifestyle and attitudes?
2. An Arab film, Arab-Palestinian? The point of view, perspectives on living in America, holding on to traditions, arranged marriages, memories of the homeland, antagonism to Israel and Jews?
3. The New York setting, workplaces, homes, help groups, the streets, the atmosphere in New York? The musical score?
4. The farcical nature of the film, the characters, behaviour? The film seeing itself as contributing to peace between Palestinians and Jews? The critique of hard stances? Possibilities of love?
5. The story of Arafat, aged 30, still living with his parents, his father’s severity, the meal sequences, his mother supporting him, wanting him to respect his father? The later explanation about his father, his continued support of his wife, even after she could have no more children and family was urging him to marry again? Arafat and his room, the preoccupation with sex, his pornography addiction, watching films on his computer at work, his being fired? His behaviour at home? His going to the group, talking about himself, masturbation and frustration, his being paired up by the leader with Kenny? Kenny and his attitudes, wanting Arafat to meet girls, the Sex and the City tour, the drinks, going back home, his parents coming in to Arafat’s room and the girl? Arafat collecthing his porn and throwing it into the harbour and his being accosted by the police?
6. The various visits for arranged marriages, the large girl and her not wanting to marry him and threatening him? Going back to Palestine, the meeting, the brothers not liking Arafat, his refusal to marry, his saying he had no empathy with the girl?
7. The issue of arranged marriages for green cards? Kenny and his organising it? The broker? a Jewish girl? Reactions all round?
8. The engagement, none of the families wanting to come to the wedding? Rounding up stand-ins? The irony of the ceremony with the imam and the Rabbi, their rivalry, reading over each other? The satiric poke at Arab- Israeli tensions?
9. Michelle and Arafat, getting to know each other, the separate rooms, their going for a walk, talking, communicating, falling in love? Michelle and her memories of her boyfriend in Israel, his marrying someone else, his coming to New York, Michelle rejecting him?
10. The effect on Arafat, talking with Kenny, his experiencing love?
11. Moving out from his parents’ home, reactions of his father? His mother?
12. Michelle, deciding to return to Israel? His getting information that she had not gone, running to the taxi, leaving, her getting out, their being together, mutual love?
