ULTIMATUM

France, 2009, 104 minutes, Colour.
Gaspard Ulliel, Jasmine Trinca, Michel Boujenah, Anna Galiena, Sarah Adler, Hana Laslo, Miryam Zohar, Tzahi Grad, Adib Jahschan.
Directed by Alain Tasma.

Ultimatum is set in Israel in 1990 at the time of the Gulf War, the Allies attack on Saddam Hussein, the bombing of Baghdad, Saddam Hussein’s threats to send rockets over Israel, Israel’s preparation for war and the experience of the rocket attacks.

There is a sense of anxiety, a different kind of war where people stayed inside and sealed themselves with tape and wearing gas masks.

This is a story of a range of people whose lives intercut. There are the anxious parents, the mother neurotic, ringing her daughter to see whether she was safe. The daughter has moved out of this overprotective atmosphere and is living with her boyfriend. She is a competent woman, providing the income, wanting to have a child. By contrast, he is an artist, perpetually moody, upset at the idea of a child, working as a security guard but presenting his job and the people, friendly with a sympathetic Palestinian who runs a restaurant and confiding in him. There is also a pregnant friend of the young woman, her anxious mother who drives despite the dangers from Haifa to Tel Aviv, her partner who works for the radio. The pregnant woman also works in a restaurant, the boss who is perpetually worried about stock. He is also upset about his gay partner who has been absent. There are some neighbours, the University professor, the security guards and the head of the company, the old-fashioned taxi driver who prefers to be out rather than sealed up, something of a cross-section who are experiencing the rates at this time.

1. The title? The Israeli setting? The Gulf War atmosphere? The threat to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and Israel?

2. 1990, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, homes and apartments, clubs, universities, the work of security guards, bars? The countryside? Musical score?

3. The focus on the range of characters, their stories intercut and connected?

4. Natanel and Luisa, their partnership, seen at the party, an End of the World party, Natanel being morose, wanting to leave, the effect on Luisa? Their love, living together? His work as a security guard and his resentments? Her working and earning the living? His artwork and his spasmodic approach? Luisa are wanting a baby, Natanel not able to cope? His going to his Palestinian friend, talking things over? Luisa, the phone call from her mother and father, her mother’s anxiety?

5. Coping with the expected attack? The gas masks, sealing up the room? Finding themselves confined? Natanel and his being late for his job, given one more chance, fired, handing over his gun? Talking with his friend? The conflicts with Luisa? Her walking out? His decision to go to France? Her staying with her friend Tamar?

6. Tamar, her pregnancy, working in the restaurant? Her husband, his work on the radio, the demands on him? Apprehensions about the rocket attacks? Her welcoming Luisa? Tamar’s mother, the phone calls, driving from Haifa, on the highway at night? Wanting the phone, the gas mask? Assisting Tamar, the birth, the hospital, Luisa’s visit?

7. Luisa’s mother and father, the neurotic mother, the incessant phone calls, the father trying to keep calm, going to work?

8. The old lady, Luisa’s neighbour, her cries, moodiness, memories of the Holocaust, being taken away, hoping for comfort?

9. The manager of the shop, the gay man, his phone calls from his partner, the partner eventually coming home, the meal together? His discussions with Luisa?

10. The glimpse of the University, the lecturer, the linking of past politics with contemporary situations? The reactions of the students?

11. The reality of the situation, President Bush and the attack on Baghdad, the response of Saddam Hussein, the threats of rockets towards Israel, their being fended off? The population, concern, precautions?

12. The attack not happening and people returning to normal?