Private

Though Private has its share of problems, the story is compelling enough that we’re willing overlook such deficiencies. The film features a Palestinian family held hostage in their own home by Israeli soldiers, who have confined them to a small room on the first floor. The father wants to obey their orders and preaches pacifism to his family, while his teenaged son and daughter would rather fight – even if that means their death. Though the soldiers may seem to be one-dimensional villains, documentaries like Checkpoint and Death in Gaza have proved that that’s just not the case. And though the film is badly acted and has minimal production values, there’s still something riveting about the whole thing. The film is, surprisingly enough, occasionally quite suspenseful, as the rebellious daughter ventures into the forbidden section of the house. Director Saverio Costanzo does a nice job of keeping the tension high, ensuring that Private remains engaging throughout.

*** out of ****