Miral

Director Julian Schnabel offers a distinctly Palestinian perspective on the birth of Israel, based on journalist Rula Jebreal's titular semi-autobiographical novel. The narrative begins in Jerusalem with the well-to-do Hind Husseini (Hiam Abbass), who opens a center in 1948 for Arab orphans, before flashing forward 19 years to introduce Nadia (Yasmine Al Massri), an abused alcoholic who does time for assault. Through a cellmate, Nadia meets Jamal (Alexander Siddig), a devout Muslim who becomes her husband. The story then advances another 20 years to catch up with 17-year-old Miral (Freida Pinto), while an extended (and confusing) flashback reveals Miral's connection to the two women, whose experiences shape her own feelings about the intifada. Miral falls for PLO leader Hani (Omar Metwally) and becomes convinced that she can benefit her people more through revolution than education (the path Hind has encouraged her to pursue), but after Hani disappears, the authorities bring Miral in for questioning, and she ends up in Ramallah, where Lisa (played by Schnabel's daughter, Stella), a Jewish family friend, further influences her thinking. By 1993, Miral figures out how she can best serve her heritage. With its sprawling narrative, the film gets off to a slow start but builds to a moving finish, and even though the lovely Pinto seems sometimes limited in her thespian abilities, Abbass and Siddig ground the story with performances that are full of warmth and compassion. A strong optional purchase. (K. Fennessy)