Movies

Israelis want 'Paradise' out of Oscars

Published Thursday, Mar 2 2006, 15:06 GMT | By Dave West
Israeli families have called for Palestinian Paradise Now to be disqualified from the Oscars.

Relatives of teens killed in a bus bombing say they have more then 32,000 signatures opposing the film's best foreign language nomination.

The film – which has already won the Golden Globe for best foreign film – focuses on two suicide-bomb volunteers. Director Hany Abu-Assad said the Globe
demonstrated recognition "that the Palestinians deserve their liberty and equality".

But the petition organisers say his movie will encourage attacks and is disrespectful. Yossi Zur, whose son Asaf was killed in a bomb in Haifa, said: "What they call 'Paradise Now' we call 'hell now', each and every day."

He added: "It is a mission of the free world not to give such movies a prize."

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has refused to comment on the petition.

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