robinakaaly This was a very engrossing film about the immediate aftermath of the war in South Lebanon in 2006. The film starts with graphic footage of Israeli bombing of Lebanese towns and refugee camps: modern weaponry is not for the faint hearted. A well dressed woman (with interesting décolletage) arrives in Beirut. She is looking for her son and her sister who live in the south. She negotiates with a taxi driver to take her there. At first they spark off each other, not least as she is reticent about her background. The drive south through bomb damaged towns, villages, roads and bridges was quite chilling (as is essentially the whole film). In her home town, which has been flattened, it appears that her sister is dead and buried in a mass grave, but her son may have been rescued. The film follows her on the trail of her son, with her relationship with the taxi-driver slowly thawing. It appears she has just split from her husband, an international architect living in Dubai. They had sent their son home while they sorted themselves out, only for him to be caught in the war. They eventually locate him in a monastery, and have a dangerous drive across country to find him. Cruelly, it is a friend of the son, wearing his jacket: The boy, like his aunt had been killed in the bombing. Filmed on location immediately after the war, the film had, in the trite phrase, a shocking immediacy. The discussions between locals about what was going on were also illuminating: for most it wasn't their war, and Israel was where they wanted to be for work.

krazeeklown I did not think that the sex scene was awkward in the movie; I found it quite appropriate. It is clear that Tony is attracted to Zeina, so when a decent substitute comes along for him to express his sexual desire, it seems genuine. The innkeeper may have exaggerated on being scared of the wind, but in wartime there is a sense of alienation and a desire to unify, even if in the most banal ways. Tony is portrayed as a sort-of loner, working man. He initially helps Zeina most likely because of her beauty; I believe he was staring at her breasts when he first offered to help her. As the two bonded on their journey, Tony opened up about his past and became more sympathetic. This is the crux of the character development. The simplicity of the relationship and the romantic nuances exemplify the human spirit. In essence, Tony discovered that he didn't just want to "bang" Zeina, but he generally appreciated her for being herself. Likewise, Zeina became less guarded over time and looked to Tony for comfort, especially in the wake of her divorce and her newfound independence. Zeina had a desire to return to her roots and Tony, also being from the same region, comes to be a representation of her own identity.

valis1949 In our modern and enlightened age there is no such thing as a 'Non-Combatant'. Whether we like it or not, each of us is on one side or the other. UNDER THE BOMBS tells the story of a young mother who is trying to find her sister and son during the ceasefire of the 2006 Israeli/Lebanon Conflict. She is a wealthy outsider from Dubai who enlists the aid of a sympathetic local cabbie who helps her track down her missing family. The film focuses on their budding friendship against the backdrop of actual war zone footage. Many of the scenes are unscripted, and are shot as the real events unfold, and make for compelling cinema. The film drives home the message that wars are putatively fought and lost for valid reasons, but there are never any winners-only losers. A very thought provoking look at the true cost of a nation's foreign policies.

laminee This is a really good film. And due to the fact that it was shot during the actual crisis gives it a documentary feel. Complimented with that is the superb acting of the lead characters. It's like real life unfolding on screen - the rampant destruction, needless pains & senseless atrocities of the war. The rustic music also suits the storyline perfectly.A couple sequences though didn't quite fit into the flow of the story: - the sex scene seemed unnecessary and the breaking down of the car at the very end seemed like a little forced upon melodrama.Would recommend this movie to anyone who is in a mood to find out how the Middle East politico-religious crisis affects a common citizen.