Miral Reviews
bbcfloridabound
Super Reviewer
September 20, 2012
This movie is a portrayal of what occurred to the Palestinians. I enjoyed the movie and it brought tears to my eyes.. The actors performed a moving performance that pulled on my heart strings. A film made to show what the Palestinians have had to face and still face on a daily basis. Some people may say that this movie is Pro-Palestinian that is for you to decided. Excellent film that didn't get much play in the US. 5 Stars 8-16-12
Anthony L
Super Reviewer
June 1, 2011
Reading the various negative reviews of Miral is laughable. I very much doubt that any of the critics have actually read Rula Jebreal's heartbreaking novel on which the film is based. I have actually read her novel, the true story of her life in the Dar El-Tifel orphanage and the film captures her words perfectly. Like any adaptation, there are parts missing but the key moments are there and are glorious - If there is one thing Julian Schnabel has proved, it's that he has the utmost respect for every adaptation he has directed. I would suggest that the critics have more problems with the political viewpoints than the film itself but that just shows their ignorance. Hind al-Husseini was a remarkable person and it is great to see her recognised here for the good she has done, it would be great to see a film dedicated to telling her story in detail. Julian Schnabel still doesn't seem to be getting the credit he deserves, maybe I'm a little bit biased because he made a film about my favourite artists and adapted my favourite book but then again, wouldn't that make me more critical of his work? Miral is a great film, it is not a 'muddled melodrama' like the American press would have you believe, it is an important insight into the lives of the orphans of the Deir Yassin massacre and the unrest there ever since and should be seen. Julian Schnabel has got this one just right, if he hadn't I very much doubt his girlfriend RULA JEBREAL!! would have let him direct/release it.
Bill D 2007
Super Reviewer
April 17, 2011
"Miral" is put together reasonably well. Schnabel (whose previous films were "Before Night Falls" and "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly") appears to have decided early on to create a very simple movie, and he maintains careful focus on delivering that objective. Freida Pinto ("Slumdog Millionaire") does an adequate job playing the eponymous lead character, who grows up mostly in an orphanage and gets involved in the "intifada" movement in the late 1980s. This of course puts her on a collision course with the Israeli Police.
An example of the film's laughable over-simplifications concerns the 1967 Six-Day War. The war, first of all, is never explained, but the aftermath is discussed. The Israeli "occupation" of the West Bank that followed the war is presented as simple aggression on the part of Israel. There is no mention of the endless violence waged on Israel from that territory in the years leading up to the war or the use of that area as a staging ground for an invasion of Israel. I'm no pro-Israel zealot, but let's at least be fair when critiquing their military actions. Characterizing Israel as a pure aggressor is ridiculous. It's as ridiculous as believing the Palestinians are all terrorists.
As a work of art, "Miral" is a huge disappointment. As a work of politics, it is also a letdown. But it does work as a simple drama, and there are moments of genuine emotion. Surprisingly, the most interesting passages concern the personal ordeals suffered by Miral's mother, who killed herself when Miral was a young girl. I suspect that Schnabel the artist was drawn more to the mother's story. But Schnabel the (mediocre) politician unfortunately took the dominant role for this project.
With all the film's ordinariness, there still is something inspiring about a Jewish filmmaker trying to look at things from a pro-Palestinian perspective. Imagine a movie made in the 1980s by a white filmmaker in South Africa championing the black movement there. Even if the film were mediocre, one would be moved. In that sense there is something special about "Miral."
"Miral," the new film from writer-director Julian Schnabel, is more a work of politics than a work of art, and it's not that interesting even as a work of politics. It presents a very basic pro-Palestinian point of view that skirts all the really tough issues that make the Israeli/Palestinian struggle so intractable. I'm not sure what value there is in over-simplifying Middle Eastern politics and making what is essentially a TV movie based on these matters.
"Miral" is put together reasonably well. Schnabel (whose previous films were "Before Night Falls" and "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly") appears to have decided early on to create a very simple movie, and he maintains careful focus on delivering that objective. Freida Pinto ("Slumdog Millionaire") does an adequate job playing the eponymous lead character, who grows up mostly in an orphanage and gets involved in the "intifada" movement in the late 1980s. This of course puts her on a collision course with the Israeli Police.
An example of the film's laughable over-simplifications concerns the 1967 Six-Day War. The war, first of all, is never explained, but the aftermath is discussed. The Israeli "occupation" of the West Bank that followed the war is presented as simple aggression on the part of Israel. There is no mention of the endless violence waged on Israel from that territory in the years leading up to the war or the use of that area as a staging ground for an invasion of Israel. I'm no pro-Israel zealot, but let's at least be fair when critiquing their military actions. Characterizing Israel as a pure aggressor is ridiculous. It's as ridiculous as believing the Palestinians are all terrorists.
As a work of art, "Miral" is a huge disappointment. As a work of politics, it is also a letdown. But it does work as a simple drama, and there are moments of genuine emotion. Surprisingly, the most interesting passages concern the personal ordeals suffered by Miral's mother, who killed herself when Miral was a young girl. I suspect that Schnabel the artist was drawn more to the mother's story. But Schnabel the (mediocre) politician unfortunately took the dominant role for this project.
With all the film's ordinariness, there still is something inspiring about a Jewish filmmaker trying to look at things from a pro-Palestinian perspective. Imagine a movie made in the 1980s by a white filmmaker in South Africa championing the black movement there. Even if the film were mediocre, one would be moved. In that sense there is something special about "Miral."
Harlequin68
Super Reviewer
June 23, 2012
As a director, Julian Schnabel has a way of utilizing his skills as an artist to give his films a unique beauty. At the same time, he has a way of getting tripped up by politics and that could not be any truer than with "Miral." Either, he ignores them altogether when he intercuts a bombing with Polanski's "Repulsion" which is getting a little cutesy for my tastes. Or else Schnabel is as subtle as having a boulder dropped on your head. And I say that, even though I am on his side when it comes to the subject of Palestinian independence. Nor does it help in going over the familiar terrain of 40 years of history that he cannot decide who the movie should be about, Hind or Miral, as neither have much in common with each other, outside of their nationality. One place where Schnabel succeeds is in his insight that there is a difference in the attitudes of generations of Palestinians. Whereas the earlier generation may have been more accommodating, the younger generation is more willing to fight, resulting in the First Infitada.
"Miral" starts with Bertha(Vanessa Redgrave) introducing Hind Husseini(Hiam Abbass) to Edward Smith(Willem Dafoe) at the American Colony Hotel in Palestine in 1947. That introduction comes in handy decades later with Edward, now a colonel in the United States Army, being able to navigate Israeli roadblocks for Hind who now runs an orphanage. Meanwhile, Nadia(Yasmine Al Massri) looks elsewhere for shelter to escape the abuse she suffers at home and ends up in a seedy strip club before getting six months for headbutting a woman on a bus. In jail, she shares a cell with Fatima(Ruba Blal), a terrorist, who intrudoces her to her brother(Alexander Siddig) who Nadia marries on her release. And that's how Miral(Freida Pinto) enters the story...
As a director, Julian Schnabel has a way of utilizing his skills as an artist to give his films a unique beauty. At the same time, he has a way of getting tripped up by politics and that could not be any truer than with "Miral." Either, he ignores them altogether when he intercuts a bombing with Polanski's "Repulsion" which is getting a little cutesy for my tastes. Or else Schnabel is as subtle as having a boulder dropped on your head. And I say that, even though I am on his side when it comes to the subject of Palestinian independence. Nor does it help in going over the familiar terrain of 40 years of history that he cannot decide who the movie should be about, Hind or Miral, as neither have much in common with each other, outside of their nationality. One place where Schnabel succeeds is in his insight that there is a difference in the attitudes of generations of Palestinians. Whereas the earlier generation may have been more accommodating, the younger generation is more willing to fight, resulting in the First Infitada.
Ryan M
Super Reviewer
September 2, 2011
I try to watch as many art-house films as I can; not because I'm a hipster and think that such stuff is always better than the mainstream offerings from Hollywood, but because art films are genuinely interesting, and once in a while, along comes a masterpiece. And then again, also once in a while, there comes an art film that nearly ends all art films; one that's either just-plain-bad, too controversial to swallow, or an effort from a director who had better impress his followers...or else. Julian Schnabel, the director of "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly", definitely has some seriously visionary work to follow that film up with when it comes to his newest feature. "Miral", alas, is one of those art films that doesn't nearly fit the definition of a masterpiece. In fact, it's a mess of artistic vision and melodramatic, uneven storytelling. It doesn't work in the slightest, but it is not a bad film.
Bad films are annoying, and while there are PLENTY of annoyances to be found here, "Miral" has some good aspects to it to at least try and overshadow the bad ones. However, in the end, things just feel so out of place and over-stylized that you have to stop and realize that this mediocrity fest IS from the guy who also made the said film, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly". Now THAT was a great movie; while this film is just barely half the one that the earlier film was.
The film chronicles Hind Husseini's establishment of a Jerusalem orphanage, as well as the establishment of Israel. Husseini first discovers over fifty homeless children living on the streets, and she decides to take them in; feeding them, and giving them shelter. In a matter of time, which is like, no time at all, really; the fifty kids have grown to about two thousand, and this is where Husseini decides to build the orphanage for all the children.
The film's titular character, Miral (Freida Pinto) is sent to the orphanage after her mother dies, and her father almost forcefully sends her off, as he cannot take care of her on his own. Miral is unaware of the problems growing in the outside world; but she evolves into a very beautiful, very intelligent, and respectful young woman. She is given a chance, finally, to realize the troubles that surround her when she is assigned to teach at a refugee camp. This is where Miral opens her eyes and sees the violence, the problems; and some of the beauty.
Schnabel decides to show one side of the story being told here; the "other side". I respect his artistic vision, as I do believe he is a true artist, but this is the first film of his that I've seen in which it's sort of a win-win situation. You want beautiful cinematography, taut direction, and good leading performances; you've got 'em. And hey; just because I didn't feel anything whatsoever with this story does not mean that you won't. Obviously Schnabel obviously felt something; maybe you will too.
I wanted to like "Miral". I wanted to be one to praise it in spite of all this critical panning it has received, which surprised me when I first saw the reactions of various critics, but I can't lie; I must speak the truth. I did not like the film. For every good thing, there was also a plethora of bad ones. The drama felt weak, I never really cared, and thus, I felt bored; which is strange, because I expected Schnabel to be the silent, observant type. He exercises some craft here, he gives his film an interesting look. But that just isn't enough. The film won't win much support in terms of its political themes, just as it won't have many admirers as a film overall. And it shows; I now realize why "Miral" has gotten such negative critical reception. I don't necessarily hate it, as some people seriously do, but there's not enough going on here for me to recommend it. Once again; it isn't a bad film. It's just an unfocused, nearly joyless and most certainly bland one.
4.9/10
I try to watch as many art-house films as I can; not because I'm a hipster and think that such stuff is always better than the mainstream offerings from Hollywood, but because art films are genuinely interesting, and once in a while, along comes a masterpiece. And then again, also once in a while, there comes an art film that nearly ends all art films; one that's either just-plain-bad, too controversial to swallow, or an effort from a director who had better impress his followers...or else. Julian Schnabel, the director of "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly", definitely has some seriously visionary work to follow that film up with when it comes to his newest feature. "Miral", alas, is one of those art films that doesn't nearly fit the definition of a masterpiece. In fact, it's a mess of artistic vision and melodramatic, uneven storytelling. It doesn't work in the slightest, but it is not a bad film.
Bad films are annoying, and while there are PLENTY of annoyances to be found here, "Miral" has some good aspects to it to at least try and overshadow the bad ones. However, in the end, things just feel so out of place and over-stylized that you have to stop and realize that this mediocrity fest IS from the guy who also made the said film, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly". Now THAT was a great movie; while this film is just barely half the one that the earlier film was.
The film chronicles Hind Husseini's establishment of a Jerusalem orphanage, as well as the establishment of Israel. Husseini first discovers over fifty homeless children living on the streets, and she decides to take them in; feeding them, and giving them shelter. In a matter of time, which is like, no time at all, really; the fifty kids have grown to about two thousand, and this is where Husseini decides to build the orphanage for all the children.
The film's titular character, Miral (Freida Pinto) is sent to the orphanage after her mother dies, and her father almost forcefully sends her off, as he cannot take care of her on his own. Miral is unaware of the problems growing in the outside world; but she evolves into a very beautiful, very intelligent, and respectful young woman. She is given a chance, finally, to realize the troubles that surround her when she is assigned to teach at a refugee camp. This is where Miral opens her eyes and sees the violence, the problems; and some of the beauty.
Schnabel decides to show one side of the story being told here; the "other side". I respect his artistic vision, as I do believe he is a true artist, but this is the first film of his that I've seen in which it's sort of a win-win situation. You want beautiful cinematography, taut direction, and good leading performances; you've got 'em. And hey; just because I didn't feel anything whatsoever with this story does not mean that you won't. Obviously Schnabel obviously felt something; maybe you will too.
I wanted to like "Miral". I wanted to be one to praise it in spite of all this critical panning it has received, which surprised me when I first saw the reactions of various critics, but I can't lie; I must speak the truth. I did not like the film. For every good thing, there was also a plethora of bad ones. The drama felt weak, I never really cared, and thus, I felt bored; which is strange, because I expected Schnabel to be the silent, observant type. He exercises some craft here, he gives his film an interesting look. But that just isn't enough. The film won't win much support in terms of its political themes, just as it won't have many admirers as a film overall. And it shows; I now realize why "Miral" has gotten such negative critical reception. I don't necessarily hate it, as some people seriously do, but there's not enough going on here for me to recommend it. Once again; it isn't a bad film. It's just an unfocused, nearly joyless and most certainly bland one.
Christopher H
Super Reviewer
March 27, 2011
Lacking for the first forty-five minutes, "Miral" should simply have focused on Freida Pinto and her character instead of venturing off into back story. The entire film before her appearance is forgettable, but Pinto's performance is emotionally powerful and would sell an entire film.
November 11, 2011
another winner from artist/director schnabel i first thought it was a doc but i'm was delighted 2 find out it wasn't.
July 24, 2011
"Previews got me very interested in this movie part of it because I love Freida Pinto (she so damn beautiful and she has good potential to be a great actress), never got released in theaters in the US and finally it got released on DVD, I netflixed it right away. Despite a slow start, Miral is pretty sad & good movie to look at. Julian Schnabel does an excellent job of showing the background of the Jerusalem War back in the days (showing a lot of what of those people went through). Freida Pinto now in her sophmore movie after her Slumdog Millionaire breakthough, this time getting the nod of a leading role does a fine job here, she's extremely beautiful and again to me, has good potential to be a great actress (she has two big movies coming up: Immortals & Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, so she's been busy lately). This movie is not one of those "WOW, this was amazing" movies but it does offer you history (this is a True Story after all), good message, importance & actually gives you a good assignment for those in school to learn about."
Hiatt N.
March 10, 2013
Far from excellent, but certainly not deserving of anything as low as 17%. Miral tells the untold half of a controversial story with style if not substance, and is an earnest effort.
November 22, 2012
This movie is about the story of Miral during the circumstances that were forced upon her by the Palestinian - Israel conflict. with that said Miral is a great movie and it brought tears to my eyes. But it seems that the critics' reviews about this movie is dangerously effected by their view about the conflict that it blinded them from what the movie is about, some of them (if they had the power) would really want to change the events of the story just to defend the other side, but this is a real story, not a documentary and what Miral suffered through occupation is true as well.
November 20, 2012
It starts of well, but fails to mention the kids were leftovers from Dier Yassin literally dropped off at the Old City walls. It shows only half the sotry and not in epic details the genocide. The 2nd half focusses on the ills of Arab society and subliminally portrays how bad they are indulging themselves in sex and drugs, especially the former. It then concludes with the notion that it is a 2 sided conflict and the onus is also on the victim to seek peace. Very little info on the realities of the brutal occupation after the 1st twenty minutes, and doesn't show the reality of the ethnic cleansing operations ny zionist terrorists such as Irgun and Stern gang. A film about the Nakba would be much more honest
October 27, 2012
I don't know why the name of the movie is Miral!! they should name it "Hind".. Also it's weird that they brought an Indian actress to play Palestinian! Her performance and how she speaks Arabic was really bad for this role...
September 23, 2012
bright light on the current situation in Palestine....people are being forced to live like 3rd /4th class citizens! Excellent movie cause it doesn't sugarcoat anything.
August 14, 2012
The story begins in war-torn Jerusalem in 1948 when Hind Husseini (HIAM ABBASS) opens an orphanage for refugee children that quickly becomes home to 2000 orphans. One of the children is seventeen year old Miral (FRIEDA PINTO, Slumdog Millionaire) who arrived at the orphanage 10 years earlier, following her mother's tragic death. On the cusp of the Intifada resistance, Miral is assigned to teach at a refugee camp where she falls for a fervent political activist, Hani (OMAR METWALLY, Munich, Rendition) and finds herself in a personal battle that mirrors the greater dilemma around her: to fight like those before her or follow Mama Hind's defiant belief that education will pave a road to peace. (RT)
First of all it's nice to see finally movies about Palestinian' prospective after Paradise NOW on international level. The Jews may have suffered during World War II but how can justify themselves by doing the same thing in Palestine and as they did in Bosnia. It's defiantly a nice attempt but the movie is not as effective as suppose to be. The movie could never determine which woman story they want to tell. It focuses on one woman and we forget about the other one and her thoughts.
Frieda Pinto has done a good job as always, she is really impressive and getting better with each new release. Hiam Abbasss has done a decent job. Cameos by Vanessa Redgrave and William Defoe are nice.
Anyways, it's a nice movie about Israelis terrorism on the Palestinian. It's about time world should accept that the situation for Muslims is as worst as as it was for Jews during World War II.
Miral - CATCH IT (B-)
The story begins in war-torn Jerusalem in 1948 when Hind Husseini (HIAM ABBASS) opens an orphanage for refugee children that quickly becomes home to 2000 orphans. One of the children is seventeen year old Miral (FRIEDA PINTO, Slumdog Millionaire) who arrived at the orphanage 10 years earlier, following her mother's tragic death. On the cusp of the Intifada resistance, Miral is assigned to teach at a refugee camp where she falls for a fervent political activist, Hani (OMAR METWALLY, Munich, Rendition) and finds herself in a personal battle that mirrors the greater dilemma around her: to fight like those before her or follow Mama Hind's defiant belief that education will pave a road to peace. (RT)
First of all it's nice to see finally movies about Palestinian' prospective after Paradise NOW on international level. The Jews may have suffered during World War II but how can justify themselves by doing the same thing in Palestine and as they did in Bosnia. It's defiantly a nice attempt but the movie is not as effective as suppose to be. The movie could never determine which woman story they want to tell. It focuses on one woman and we forget about the other one and her thoughts.
Frieda Pinto has done a good job as always, she is really impressive and getting better with each new release. Hiam Abbasss has done a decent job. Cameos by Vanessa Redgrave and William Defoe are nice.
Anyways, it's a nice movie about Israelis terrorism on the Palestinian. It's about time world should accept that the situation for Muslims is as worst as as it was for Jews during World War II.
Christopher H
Super Reviewer
March 27, 2011
Lacking for the first forty-five minutes, "Miral" should simply have focused on Freida Pinto and her character instead of venturing off into back story. The entire film before her appearance is forgettable, but Pinto's performance is emotionally powerful and would sell an entire film.
July 6, 2012
A surprisingly pro-palestinian movie distributed by the Weinstein Company? Politics aside, this is a touching movie about how the war touches the lives of everyday people. You know that for Willem Dafoe and Vanessa Redgrave to lend their names to an art movie (where they must have worked for little or nothing), they must believe in the story, the director, or perhaps both. This is simple story telling at it's best. Time to read the book too, perhaps.
Harlequin68
Super Reviewer
June 23, 2012
As a director, Julian Schnabel has a way of utilizing his skills as an artist to give his films a unique beauty. At the same time, he has a way of getting tripped up by politics and that could not be any truer than with "Miral." Either, he ignores them altogether when he intercuts a bombing with Polanski's "Repulsion" which is getting a little cutesy for my tastes. Or else Schnabel is as subtle as having a boulder dropped on your head. And I say that, even though I am on his side when it comes to the subject of Palestinian independence. Nor does it help in going over the familiar terrain of 40 years of history that he cannot decide who the movie should be about, Hind or Miral, as neither have much in common with each other, outside of their nationality. One place where Schnabel succeeds is in his insight that there is a difference in the attitudes of generations of Palestinians. Whereas the earlier generation may have been more accommodating, the younger generation is more willing to fight, resulting in the First Infitada.
"Miral" starts with Bertha(Vanessa Redgrave) introducing Hind Husseini(Hiam Abbass) to Edward Smith(Willem Dafoe) at the American Colony Hotel in Palestine in 1947. That introduction comes in handy decades later with Edward, now a colonel in the United States Army, being able to navigate Israeli roadblocks for Hind who now runs an orphanage. Meanwhile, Nadia(Yasmine Al Massri) looks elsewhere for shelter to escape the abuse she suffers at home and ends up in a seedy strip club before getting six months for headbutting a woman on a bus. In jail, she shares a cell with Fatima(Ruba Blal), a terrorist, who intrudoces her to her brother(Alexander Siddig) who Nadia marries on her release. And that's how Miral(Freida Pinto) enters the story...
As a director, Julian Schnabel has a way of utilizing his skills as an artist to give his films a unique beauty. At the same time, he has a way of getting tripped up by politics and that could not be any truer than with "Miral." Either, he ignores them altogether when he intercuts a bombing with Polanski's "Repulsion" which is getting a little cutesy for my tastes. Or else Schnabel is as subtle as having a boulder dropped on your head. And I say that, even though I am on his side when it comes to the subject of Palestinian independence. Nor does it help in going over the familiar terrain of 40 years of history that he cannot decide who the movie should be about, Hind or Miral, as neither have much in common with each other, outside of their nationality. One place where Schnabel succeeds is in his insight that there is a difference in the attitudes of generations of Palestinians. Whereas the earlier generation may have been more accommodating, the younger generation is more willing to fight, resulting in the First Infitada.
April 16, 2012
I can't understand for the life of me why they would cast Freida Pinto as the lead in this movie. She doesn't look the least bit Palestinian and I found that to be very distracting.
March 11, 2012
was an exceptional movie an incredible story. The Mr.Schnabel should take a bow because i feel that this was better than The Diving Bell... It is unfortunate that the story is all to common. Perhaps this will give some insight into how desperation can motivate anybody to do anything
