Movie #894 "When I Saw You" was the last film I saw at the Phoenix Film Festival 2014. This one won the Best World Cinema film, and it was deserving. What a complete study of this mother and son, their individual characteristics as well as their bond, since dad sent them ahead and they are waiting for dad and greet every truck that drops off more refugees. I often wonder how kids process what is happening in war, and this one answers so many questions. As it says in the plot summary below, he has a life-changing journey, and that involves the kadeeya, palestinian civilians who train to take back their land from the Israelis, and this kid tries to become one of them. I found that whole training process intriguing along with how they treat this young boy who wants to do something about his displacement from his homeland. Mom follows and the decisions she make becomes the crux of the film --- how does she deal with this headstrong kid? How can she protect him and yet try to get him to understand how dangerous the situation is for them in this strange new place. But how this place seems to be the safest to be in. My first reaction of the ending was not good, but then when I stood back and thought about it, I grew to like, and even prefer, this ending to another one, so i hope it is satisfactory for you, too, if you get an opportunity to see this. (it was incidentally the Palestinian entry for an academy award this year)
When I Saw You2012NR I would give this 4 stars out of 5
Displaced to a Jordanian refugee camp with his mother in the wake of the Six-Day War, a restless 11-year-old Palestinian has trouble adjusting. Yearning to reunite with his missing father, the headstrong boy sets out on a life-changing journey.
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