Film Review – Zaytoun

“Zaytoun” is often strong stuff, depicting acts of violence with a
merciless abruptness that triggers the requisite amount of shock. The
harshness of select scenes contrast intriguingly with the picture’s
overall gentle demeanor, depicting a wartime friendship between sworn
enemies, developed over time and through various acts of trust. We’ve
seen this type of story before, and the production doesn’t try to avoid
familiarity, offering the viewer a customary offering of feel-good
cinema set during a horrifying time of loss. The movie means well
enough, yet “Zaytoun” doesn’t do enough to upset expectations, trusting
in the power of warm orchestral strings and softening demeanors to coax
the viewer into a deceptive comfort zone.
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