Palace

A filmmaker undertakes a journey that takes him from his native Nazareth to Paris and then to New York, discovering a surprising connection between himself and the world. He grapples with themes of identity, displacement, and the absurdity of modern life through a series of vignettes.

Palace received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who praised its unique directorial voice and visual style but found its narrative at times elusive. Audiences were similarly divided, with some appreciating its artistic ambitions and others finding it slow-paced and overly abstract.

• Praised for its distinct visual language and surreal humor.

• Criticized for an often-slow pace and a narrative that can feel disjointed.

• Elia Suleiman's signature observational style is present but divisive.

Google audience: Google users generally appreciated the film's artistic vision and Suleiman's unique perspective, finding it thought-provoking. However, some viewers found the plot difficult to follow and wished for a more conventional storytelling approach.

Palace was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. It also screened at the 75th Venice International Film Festival.

Director Elia Suleiman, who also stars as the protagonist, famously spent years developing his distinctive visual and narrative style, often incorporating long takes and minimal dialogue to create a sense of detached observation.