In the South of Palestine, the idealistic Professor Mohammad (Mohammed Bakri) is a family man that lives with his wife and five children a simple life in an isolated house. His wife Samia (Areen Omari) wants to leave Palestine but her husband refuses to emigrate to another country and become a refugee. One night, Israeli soldiers commanded by the paranoid Commander Ofer (Lior Miller) break in their house and the peaceful Mohammad needs to control his family that wants to react against the Israeli aggression. "Private" is a heartbreaking and dramatic story about a Palestinian that has their home, that is supposed to be the safest and the most sacred place of a family, invaded by Israeli soldiers that threaten and humiliate them. The direction and performances are top-notch and the film gives the sensation of documentary. The abusive relationship of the Israeli soldiers with the Palestinian family is very similar to the Nazis and Jews in World War II, Serbs and Croats in the Yugoslav Wars or American and Iraqis in the recent invasion and happens since the very beginning of mankind history between who is in control and who is controlled by the Power that Be. Sad, but it is the reality. My vote is eight. Title (Brazil): "Violação de Domicílio" ("Home Violation")

I can't add a whole lot to what people have already said apart from the fact that this is FAR from propaganda. It IS told from the perspective of the occupied Palestinians, but in this film, these are a civilised, educated, privileged family, and somewhat of an ideal for Palestinians to look up to, especially the dignified restraint of the father.'Private', because the house was private until the soldiers came to occupy it, and 'Private' because the real conflict, (of which the house in the film is a microcosm), is anything BUT private, with the world constantly looking on and preoccupying itself with the conflict in one way or another... Ironic. Nothing is perfect, sometimes the best thing to do in life is get on with what you have, as you can't tell what will happen... I wish both sides in the conflict would realise this and give it a go for a few decades - they've already tried a few decades of conflict...

A group of Israelite soldiers occupy the house of a Palestinian family and force them to live locked in one of the rooms while they come and go inside the house. Well, thank goodness someone shows the Palestinian drama (for a change). There are plenty of movies about the Holocaust, there are lots of directors such as Amos Gitai, but only a few of them are telling the truth: and the truth is that Israelites is as terrorist as the Palestinians can be. Israelites use planes and tanks, and the Palestinian use suicide squads. Them both achieve the same: the killing of hundreds of civilians, but the question is: who shot first?? Who occupied Palestina?? "Private" is nothing like a great movie, but it is a great document which explains the complicate situation of that area. Those who don't really care about Israelite/Palestinian conflict won't find much incentive in watching this one.*My rate: 6/10

I found the film Private to be an excellent depiction of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Throughout the film you feel yourself holding your breath, identifying yourself with the tension that exists in the house. The film humanizes the current situation in the middle east. Part of what is excellent about this film, is that this it is acted by both Arab and Israeli actors. One can only imagine themselves on the set of the making of this film. Or sitting in a round circle discussion with the actors.The plot: The father does an excellent job acting his part. You are both upset at and understanding of the father. His choice to stay in his house is probably the best decision, and hardest decision. It requires a very strong person, who can watch their children be scarred but can remind themselves that in the end, the other choice would scar his children even more so. The mother sums it up when she says to her husband, "I would like to be like you, but I am not." The cinematography is excellent, because it is not excellent. The low budget look of the film lends to the reality of the situation. It reminds one that, though the story is "fiction", this story has happened. An excellent, intriguing, thought provoking, film. Everyone plays their part to the fullest.