The Time That Remains 2009

A.O. Scott, New York Times: A thorny and intricate film that is also breathtakingly simple and honest. Read more

Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out: A welcome example of kitsch wedded to serious indictment: Who knew that high-school screenings of Spartacus had such insidious purpose? Read more

Noel Murray, AV Club: Throughout, Suleiman contemplates how much has changed in his homeland since the Israeli declaration of independence in 1948, and how the natives have tried to maintain some continuity. Read more

Adam Markovitz, Entertainment Weekly: Suleiman's obvious gift for cinema makes you wish that in connecting so personally with his past, he'd occasionally reach out to the audience, too. Read more

Anthony Lane, New Yorker: To keep a steady gaze, the film suggests, is not just a virtue but a form of orderly protest, when your world is breaking apart. Read more

V.A. Musetto, New York Post: Another Palestinian director dealing with the same events might rant and rave. Not Suleiman. He knows the power of well-conceived humor. Read more

Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com: Both a musical construction and a work more concerned with form, light, sound and music than with what its characters say or do. Read more

Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle: Despite its abundance of deadpan and absurdist humor, "The Time That Remains," a look at the Arab-Israeli conflict from a Palestinian perspective, was clearly made with a sorrowful heart. Read more

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: Living in a part of the world where politics, and the pursuit of politics by warring means, are the rule, director Elia Suleiman is the exception. Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: Suleiman takes the approach of gentle observer, neither condoning nor confronting -- not violently, at least. Start with humor and perhaps empathy will follow. Read more

David Jenkins, Time Out: Palestinian director Elia Suleiman's most eloquent and moving feature to date. Read more

Derek Elley, Variety: The Never-ending Story between Arabs and Jews gets another wryly humorous workout, marbled with personal sadness and mystification, in The Time That Remains. Read more

Dan Kois, Village Voice: Suleiman's a more assured director than he is a comedian. But individual, Tati-worthy gags still have great power. Read more