ei: "Paradise Now" wins Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film

Paradise Now won the Best Foreign Language Flm category in today's 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards. The film was directed by Palestinian Hany Abu-Assad from a screenplay he cowrote with Bero Beyer, the film's Dutch producer, both of whom ascended to the podium to collect the award. Paradise Now chronicles the 48 hours before two best friends in Nablus are sent on a suicide mission to Israel. The New York Times said it �accomplishes the tricky feat of humanising the suicide bombers depicted in the film�. The paper dubbed the film "a taut, ingeniously calculated thriller".

The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards took place on Monday, January 16th, 2006, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel with a live telecast airing on NBC. (EI)

Paradise Now was competing in the Best Foreign Language Film category with Joyeux Noel (France), Kung Fu Hustle (China), The Promise (China), and Tsotsi (South Africa). Above, Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew McConaughey open the envelope. (EI)

Director Hany Abu-Assad shakes hands with the presenters as he collects his award. (EI)

Dutch producer and cowriter Bero Beyer shakes hands as Abu-Assad smiles and holds the award. (EI)

Abu-Assad thanks the cast, crew, and Hollywood Foreign Press Association for the award. (EI)

Abu-Assad finished by saying that "the Palestinian people deserve their liberty and equality unconditionally." (EI)

Film review: Paradise Now, Arjan El Fassed (23 February 2005)

Paradise Now nominated for Golden Globes, Arjan El Fassed (14 December 2005)

Paradise Now Official Website