Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee Natalie Portman (Closer V For Vendetta) stars as Rebecca an American living in Jerusalem who moments after breaking off her engagement jumps into a cab driven by Hanna a strong-willed charismatic Israeli woman. Hanna is on her way to Jordan to an ungoverned economic free zone of shady business transactions bordered by Syria Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Looking for a quick escape Rebecca convinces Hanna to take he along and the two set off to see the American a mysterious businessman that owes Hanna's husband money. But when... Hanna and Rebecca reach his office they are confronted by Leila a Palestinian who tells Hanna that the American and the money are missing. Determined not to leave the Free Zone without her husband's debt paid Hanna forces Leila to join her - with Rebecca tagging along - and the three women begin their search. Soon the relationship between them turns into an emotional solidarity that will affect each of their lives forever. [show more]
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Beginning with a lengthy close-up shot of a fragile Natalie Portman sobbing in the back seat of a car, it's clear from the very beginning that FREE ZONE is going to offer some challenging viewing. Portman's character is Rebecca, and the location is close to the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Hanna (Hanna Laslo) is the driver of the cab in which Rebecca is seated, and Hanna is desperate to get to an area known as the Free Zone in Jordan. The Free Zone is an ungoverned economic area, and Hanna's husband--who has recently been injured in a terrorist attack--has sent her there to pick up a debt owed to him. Rebecca comes along for the ride, hoping it will distract her from the painful events that have recently beset her. Once there, they forcibly pick up Leila (Hiam Abbass), who works for the man who owes Hanna's husband the debt. Together the three women search the Free Zone for this man, who is known only as 'the American'. Director Amos Gitai (KIPPUR) has created an interesting, original piece of work in THE FREE ZONE. As his three female leads go through contrasting emotions as they argue, sing, bond, and fight together, Gitai tracks the action through a gritty camera lens, creating a palpable feeling of downtrodden reality. A well-crafted portrait of three lives briefly intersecting, THE FREE ZONE is a bold move for Portman and a triumph for Gitai, who adds another impressive movie to his resume.
Middle Eastern-set road movie from director Amos Gitai. Attempting to leave behind the memories of a failed relationship, Rebecca (Natalie Portman), an American Jew, joins Hanna (Hanna Laszlo), a middle aged Israeli, in her search for her injured husband's business partner, 'The American' (Makhram Koury), who owes Hanna's husband a large sum of money. The search takes the women on an onerous journey from Jerusalem to the titular Free Zone of Jordan. At their destination they meet Leila (Hiam Abbass), a Palestinian woman who claims to know the whereabouts of the elusive debtor.
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