University of Miami

Private- Italy ? 2004 ? Miami Premiere ? 90 min. Directed by: Saverio Costanzo Based on real events, this narrative feature by documentary filmmaker Saverio Costanzo is a powerful psychological drama that explores the Arab-Israeli conflict from the perspective of a Palestinian family of seven. When their home is suddenly, forcefully occupied by Israeli soldiers and proud patriarch Mohammad refuses to flee, his family is confined to a few downstairs rooms, creating a division among his kin and a precarious relationship with the soldiers. Private received Best Picture and Best Actor awards at the Locarno International Film Festival and was honored with the FIPRESCI Jury Award by the International Federation of Film Critics. Private has been selected as this year?s Academy Award selection from Italy.