West Bank Story is easily one of the
most imaginative short comedies in years, appealing to politicos
and film-geeks alike. In this cross between the front page of
the foreign affairs section of the newspaper, a trip to White
Castle and the Jerome Robbins/Robert Wise classic West Side
Story, first-time director Ari Sandel brings a certain
naiveté to the feel of the film (like many a student
project) but the high production value more than compensates.
Like Tony and Maria before them (and Romeo and
Juliet before them), David (Ben Newmark) and Fatima (Noureen
DeWulf) have a seemingly insurmountable obstacle to overcome
for their love. David is an Isreali soldier working a security
checkpoint in the West Bank, and Fatima works in her family's
Halal restaurant. But it's no ordinary restaurant; It's Hummus
Hut, a fast food falafal stand right next door to its Jewish-owned
counterpart, Kosher King. As David and Fatima try to bring their
families together, the tensions among the Isrealis and Palestinians
seems too strong to defeat. That is, until their feuding brings
them together in a way only a Hollywood musical can.
I was most impressed and amused by the clever
script and humorous development of what is basically a pretty
simple concept. The costumes, including the menorah mascot and
kabob hats, and art direction of the restaurants were the best
part of the film. It just goes to show that even the most serious
of issues can be made light of respectfully and with a positive
angle from both sides.
I was slightly disappointed with the music of
the film. Given that it was a takeoff of Leonard Bernstein's
unbeatable West Side Story score that featured Sondheim
lyrics, it's hard to even compete. Nonetheless, even the cleverest
musical is only as good as its weakest musical number, and none
in West Bank Story particularly stood out. It's a testament
to the vision of this young filmmaker that a full orchestral
score is included, but it's perhaps too ambitious for his level
of experience and the composer's talent.
In all, though, West Bank Story is a
laugh-riot from beginning to end. Even though it lasts but twenty-two
minutes, it will leave a lasting impression on anyone who knows
anything about current events, eats fast food, or has ever seen
West Side Story. For those who don't fit into these
categories, it will, at the very least, make you want a falafel.
