DOUBLE EDGE

In DOUBLE EDGE, Faye Dunaway portrays a reporter on assignment in Israel, who must come to terms with the Palestinian uprising. As the title indicates, every action is doubled-edged in the Middle East: helping a friend, for example, could result unwittingly in another person’s death. In this rite of passage, Faye discovers that her opinions on the Palestinian uprising are simplistic at best. She befriends army reservist/best-selling novelist named David on her way to her first assignment, who presents the other side of the issue. However, rather than portray a real Israeli soldier, David’s character merely showcases Ms. Dunaway. Eventually, Faye is led through a series of events which result in her becoming unwittingly involved in the death of a supposed collaborator. The realization that she has grabbed a double-edged sword cuts deep in the final scene where she finds herself alone, surrounded by a crowd of angry and violent Palestinian youths.

Although her rite of passage gives us an appreciation of problems facing the Middle East, the issues warrant deeper investigation. Furthermore, the movie offers gut-wrenching violence, but mediocre-acting performances.