Is In Broad Daylight A True Story?
Recently released in 2019, the Academy-Award nominated film In Broad Daylight directed by Hany Abu-Assad, is a narrative based on true events that happened in the Palestinian Territories. After the extreme violence and bloodshed that ensued, three Palestinian men were brought to trial for the attempted murder of a Jewish settler.
What Is The Story About?
The story follows three Palestinian men, As’ad, Gazi, and Tarek, who have grown up together living in the Gaza Strip. When they discover that an Israeli settler has unlawfully taken over part of their property they devise a plan to take it back. They attempt to kill the settler, but are ultimately arrested by the authorities. As’ad and Gazi are given life sentences, while Tarek is acquitted due to lack of evidence.
As’ad and Gazi serve out their sentences in Israeli prisons while they both wait to be granted freedom or a pardon. The story focuses on their psychological journey and the difficult ethical decisions they face throughout their incarceration.
Is It A True Story?
Although the narrative of In Broad Daylight is heavily based on true events, it does take some liberties with certain aspects of the story. Many of the characters and events depicted in the film are true, including the three men’s respective sentences.
The film does however change the identities of the characters in order to protect their anonymity and to provide a broader insight into certain aspects of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The actual identities of the three men remain unknown, as does the name and location of the settlement they attempt to reclaim.
Conclusion
It is clear that In Broad Daylight is a narrative heavily based on true events. While some elements have been altered in order to protect the individuals involved, the film does present a compelling version of the events that led to a dramatic courtroom trial and an eventual life sentence for two men.
For anyone looking for a powerful and thought-provoking film on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, In Broad Daylight is definitely worth watching.
4. What kind of research did the filmmakers do to make sure the story of In Broad Daylight was accurate?
The filmmakers conducted extensive research to make sure the story of In Broad Daylight was as accurate as possible. They interviewed the people involved in the real-life incidents and checked out court records, newspaper articles, and police records. They also talked to the townspeople and city officials of Chillicothe, Missouri, where the murders took place, to get an accurate picture of the time and place.
5. How does the true story of In Broad Daylight compare to its fictionalized adaptation?
In Broad Daylight is a nonfiction book by Harry N. MacLean about the 1981 murder of Ken Rex McElroy in Skidmore, Missouri. It was later adapted into the TV movie In Broad Daylight (1996), which is a fictionalized version of the book. The true story follows McElroy, who was shot in broad daylight in the middle of the town after intimidating, harassing and bullying the people of Skidmore. The movie follows a similar storyline, but exaggerates certain details and characters for dramatic effect. For example, the movie introduces a heroic, vigilante character, while in reality McElroy was a criminal. Similarly, the movie romanticizes the mob justice the townspeople practice in exacting revenge on their bully, while in the actual story, McElroy was simply shot by an unidentified gunman who was never tried.