ARMENIAN-Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan (“Ararat”) skillfully explores familiar themes in “Adoration,” though as is often true with his films, the story line seems overly contrived.
For reasons eventually made clear, a high school student (Devon Bostick) falsely claims that his Palestinian father — a violin repairman who actually died with his pregnant musician mother in a car crash under circumstances that are in dispute — was responsible for the attempted terrorist bombing of an airplane.
The hoax, which is encouraged by the student’s mysterious French teacher (Arsinée Khanjian), soon spirals out of control on the Internet and provokes, you guessed it, a debate on the difference between freedom fighters and terrorists.
“Adoration,” which hinges on a number of coincidences, contains some really fine performances, including a surprising one from Canadian utility player Scott Speedman as the student’s rough-hewn uncle and guardian.
In English, French and Arabic, with English subtitles.Running time: 100 minutes. Rated R (profanity). At the Lincoln Plaza and the Sunshine.