Paradise Now Sparknotes

The film, Paradise Now, begins with a woman named Suha, arriving at one of the guard stations entering into Palestine. The main characters, Said and Khaled, are shown working at a mechanic shop, going about their day. In that instance, Khaled and Said are having trouble with a customer, but Khaled over reacts causing him to get fired. Soon after, Suha arrives at the mechanic shop to pick up her car, and meets Said, having an instant connection, which foreshadows her importance in the film.
Their childhood dream has always been to die together as martyrs. Since Khaled no longer has a job and Said being his best friend, they both get recruited for a mission by a terrorist group to become suicide bombers. The next day, their cleansing ritual begins with their farewell videos, by sending a message to the community about god and by saying goodbye to their families. There is a difference in tone, however, between the two men. Khaled’s tone is heart felt, when bidding farewell to his mother, while Said speaks in an uncaring tone. Afterwards, they’re clean shaven, dressed in the bombs and suits and blessed before their departure.

The following day, the two best friends are taken to the security bank, where they will cross and follow through with mission in Israel.

Quickly following their cross into Israel they stumble upon an obstacle, having to retreat back to Palestine because of the guards shooting at them. In the run, Khaled immediately returns to the car that dropped them off while Said hovers nearby, waiting to go back across the border. While the terrorist group moves to another location because of Said’s disappearance in order to maintain security, Said decides to continue with the terrorist attack on his own. Said stands in a bus stop, considering to set the bomb off but does not follow through. Instead, he decided to return to the drop off area across the border in Palestine, but the car is no longer

there.
Khaled insists on searching for Said and so after his persistence the terrorist leader lets him go. In search of each other, Said runs into Suha. They speak about their life, but Said tells her about his father’s sacrifice and kisses her goodbye, leading her to believe in his actions in taking part of suicide bombing. Once Suha arrives at her house, she finds Khaled waiting outside. As they’re in the car, Suha argues with him about the conflicts between Israel and Palestine. Since Khaled strongly believes in the idea of Paradise after death, Suha argues and makes him doubt all his beliefs.
Finally they find Said at his father’s grave, and all go back to the terrorist group location. After having the day to reconsider and think of all doubts, they each have come to their decision. So the last of what is supposed to be their lives they get dropped off in a parking lot in Israel. Khaled no longer feels so strongly about the attack and wishes to abort it. After Suha’s speech he longer believes in Paradise with his uncertainty. So, Said and Khaled decide to go back home. Said calls the car back, but as Khaled gets in the car, Said forces the door shut and screams at the driver to go. The last sight of Khaled is in the rear window of the car as he cries out to Said. In the end, we see Said in a bus full of citizens and soldiers and finishes in a bright, white light.