“A superb central performance from Ali Suliman as Mustafa is at the heart of this impressive first feature, which persausively captures the grinding indignities of day to day Palestinian life. Ali Suliman gives a terrific,
satisfyingly layered performance.”
— Wendy Ide, Screen Daily
“One of the pleasures of anticipating an Ali Suliman performance is knowing he’ll bring depth and complexity to every role. His character in 200 Meters, a father of three taking huge risks to get to his son in the hospital…
gives the movie its heart.”
— Jay Weissberg, Variety
“Ali Suliman excels as the anxious and impatient father in this feverish film that touches on hate and prejudice.”
— Frank J. Avella, Awards Daily
“The performances throughout are incredibly convincing, and often bring tender and heartwarming moments, as well as ones full of frustration and rage. It’s an impressive feature-length debut from Ameen Nayfeh….”
— Lucy Buglass, JumpCut Online
SYNOPSIS
Mustafa, a Palestinian construction worker, lives in a West Bank home a mere 200 meters away from his wife and children, on the other side of the Israeli border wall. Though eligible for an Israeli ID, Mustafa sacrifices living with his family in resistance to what he believes are unjust laws enforced by the occupying Israeli government, so he instead uses his work permit to visit daily. The arrangement is functional, until one day Mustafa gets a call every parent dreads: his son has been seriously injured and brought to an Israeli hospital. Rushing to cross the border checkpoint, Mustafa is denied on a technicality. Stopping at nothing to reach his child, a 200 meter distance becomes a 200 kilometer odyssey, as the increasingly desperate Mustafa attempts to smuggle himself to the other side of the wall.
Featuring a mesmerizing central performance by Ali Suliman (PARADISE NOW, JACK RYAN), 200 METERS “persuasively captures the grinding indignities of day to day Palestinian life” (Screen Daily) in an impressive feature debut by writer/director Ameen Neyfeh that expertly balances tender family drama and frenetic political thriller.
