Hany Abu-Assad’s Paradise Now debates the moral issues behind the methods implemented in violently resisting against an oppressor. Resistance, violence and war are heavily associated with men, while empathy and passivity are associated with women. The revolutionaries and have recruited two young men to follow through with the bombings. Said and Khaled’s plans to become martyr is heavily questioned by Suha, Abu Azzam's daughter. However, her power to influence is restricted, only being able to successfully change Khaled's decision. Additionally, Said has fallen in love with Suha, yet rejects this in order to follow through with the suicide bombing. With this in mind, Suha embodies femininity and acts as a conscience throughout the occupation.
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When Suha is in the taxi, the driver makes a remark about the rising prices (8:28). Suha offers sympathy and hope, stating “things will be better.” Commonly, empathy and sympathy are feminine characteristics; Also, caring for others is a woman’s role, while financial stability is the responsibility of men. The taxi driver reduces her statement into an unguided women’s talk by asking if she’s married. The question is a personal topic that the taxi driver doesn’t need to know. Notably, the driver looks back at Suha before reducing her to her femininity showcases how women are dissuaded from engaging in the national dialogue and are reduced to their appearance. The implication that a woman needs to be married and should refrain from making a comment about the current economic struggles perpetrates to the hidden misogyny of Palestine. The juxtaposition between Suha dressed in modern western clothing and the woman in the backseat (8:38) creates a sharp contrast between the traditional way of Palestine and Suha’s rejection of the current Palestine. This is a man’s world, thus women who enter will face sexual threats. Khaled remarks that her car “almost got pregnant here” (4:15) when Suha enters the car garage. Typically, car garages are a place where masculinity can flourish, causing Suha to face a form of
When Suha is in the taxi, the driver makes a remark about the rising prices (8:28). Suha offers sympathy and hope, stating “things will be better.” Commonly, empathy and sympathy are feminine characteristics; Also, caring for others is a woman’s role, while financial stability is the responsibility of men. The taxi driver reduces her statement into an unguided women’s talk by asking if she’s married. The question is a personal topic that the taxi driver doesn’t need to know. Notably, the driver looks back at Suha before reducing her to her femininity showcases how women are dissuaded from engaging in the national dialogue and are reduced to their appearance. The implication that a woman needs to be married and should refrain from making a comment about the current economic struggles perpetrates to the hidden misogyny of Palestine. The juxtaposition between Suha dressed in modern western clothing and the woman in the backseat (8:38) creates a sharp contrast between the traditional way of Palestine and Suha’s rejection of the current Palestine. This is a man’s world, thus women who enter will face sexual threats. Khaled remarks that her car “almost got pregnant here” (4:15) when Suha enters the car garage. Typically, car garages are a place where masculinity can flourish, causing Suha to face a form of