Homeland
“Homeland” is like so many films of its’ kind- it’s a character drama about tensions that simmer to the top.
Kobi (Max Rhyser) is an Isreali man who just finished up his military service. Against his parent’s wishes for him, though, he travels to America. He begins to work at a friends’ ice cream shop in New York, but finds life a bit difficult. One day, he meets Leila (Yifat Sharabi), a Palestinian girl he hits it off with, although when they learn their nationalities, they nonetheless have a hard time connecting…until they decide that backgrounds or not, there’s something between them they want to nurture.
In many ways, there were times I was reminded of the first film I was asked to screen, “Royal Faceoff.” Not in story mind you but in production values. The music seemed to overcompensate, the cinematography seems to want to “show off” so its low-budget roots aren’t as noticeable. And the writing isn’t always as deep or profound as it wants to be.
That’s where the similarities end. “Royal Faceoff” was a cheesy TV after-school special masquerading as a feature film. And while “Homeland” skirts that stigmatic line in terms of quality, it’s obvious that Brad Rothschild’s script wants to get at the core of a complex social and political issue by getting to the heart of his characters. He almost pulls it off. The longer you watch, the deeper you get into the story, and we don’t laugh at what we’re seeing (“Faceoff” was patently ridiculous), but empathize with the characters. All too often, especially when we see the characters around Kobi and Leila- Kobi’s friend and boss, Leila’s family, especially when her brother is taken in by an extremist sheik- are the focal point of a scene, “Homeland” gets bogged down in a melodramatic tone that doesn’t always ring true.
When we focus on Kobi and Leila and their dilemma, however, the film finds its’ footing as a love story like many others- complicated, star-crossed, and touching. Director Michael Eldridge does excel at these times, as do the actors. In the end, that’s what the film wants to do, as these characters want to get past their differences and listen to their hearts. It succeeds effortlessly. I just wish I liked the film as a whole more.