Bethlehem.

Co-written by Ali Waked, an Arab journalist who spent some years in the West Bank, and the films Israeli director Yuval Adler, who served in army intelligence, Bethlehem (2013) is allegedly based on extensive research carried out by the two men. Set in 2005 in the Palestinian city located in the land locked West Bank a place that has a population reputed to be in the region of 25000 people. It is also the home of the Palestinian Authority and various armed groups who will do anything to force out their Jewish overlords, but naively spend more time arguing amongst themselves.

 

Razi - the Shabak Officer who puts to much trust in a young 'Asset'?

The film demonstrates how far the Israeli security forces will go to recruit, develop and run Palestinians informants known as ‘human assets’. One such asset or collaborator is Sanfur the younger brother of Ibrahim, a Palestinian militant high on the Shabak officers wanted list, originally recruited when he was 15 years old by Razi, who seems to think highly of the lad and treats him like his own son. But in this world of lies and deceit who can any body trust? The Palestinian Authority want a cease fire, Razi and his Jewish compatriots are hell bent on capturing Sanfur’s older brother dead or alive and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and Hamas will do anything to keep their most successful freedom fighter alive and functioning.

 

Sanfur - his loyalty's are never clear!

Adler’s film succeeds in showing us the dark and bloody world of human intelligence and these poor souls that get duped into becoming part of it. The three main actors are non-professional. Tsahi Halery, who plays Razi, served in the Israeli army in the West Bank, Badawi, the leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, is played by Hitham Omari a man that has known personally militant leaders similar to the role he plays on screen. Shadi Mar’i a 17-year-old lad from Nazareth is the big surprise making the role of Sanfur totally believable and one of the main reasons this feature film could so easily be taken as a documentary.

 

Badawi - a freedom fighter that lacks over all support from his leaders. 

A movie that displays complex human interactions between the flawed characters of Razi and Sanfur, with their relationship made ever more difficult by the events constantly changing around them. A film to appreciate more than to entertain, but one that will give’s you a back ground to what we see on our nightly TV news broadcasts. This tightly wound thriller was shown as part of the Robert Burns Centre Film Theatres Middle East Film Festival.

Waltz with Bashir.

One night at a bar, an old friend tells film director Ari Folman about a recurring nightmare in which he is chased by 26 vicious dogs, every night the same dream and exactly the same number of beasts. Between them the two men agree that there must be a connection between their Israeli Army mission in the first Lebanon War of the early eighties and this nightmare. Ari can’t remember a thing anymore about that period of his life and is intrigued by this riddle and decides to meet and interview old friends and comrades from around the world. He needs to discover the truth about that period and of course about himself. As Ari delves deeper and deeper into the mystery, his memory begins to creep up in surreal images …

Which brings us nicely to the animated documentary Waltz with Bashir (2008).  It tells the story of the Sabra and Shatila massacre which was carried out between 16 and 18 September 1982 by the Lebanese Forces militia after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) allowed Lebanese Christian Phalangist militiamen to enter two Palestinian refugee camps where they brutily massacred the civilians. It was argued that the Israelis should have known that the massacre would occur, considering the recent assassination of Phalangist leader and prospective president Bashir Gemayel and given the long history of animosity between the Palestinians and the Phalangists. The exact number killed is disputed, but ranges between 328 and 3,500. 

Although this is a very sound piece of film making it’s not a particularly a easy watch.  This movie bares a remarkable resemblance to the current troubles in Gaza but the animation seems to dilute the seriousness of the subject until you’re forced to sit up and take notice when the live segment at the end of the film graphically demonstrates the true extent of the massacre!

The Band's Visit.

I think we've missed the last bus?

My previous experience of Israeli cinema was the impressive Lemon Tree (2008), which told the story of the legal fight between a Palestinian widow, and the Israeli Defense Minister, who had moved next door to her family farm and was destroying her livelihood for the sake of his own security. I thought that it would be impossible for Israeli cinema to come up with something to compare with this intelligent and enjoyable movie, but thankfully I have been proved wrong. Director and screenwriter Eran Kolirin engaging debut film The Band's Visit (2007) is certainly as good. The film won eight awards at the Israeli Film Academy and a whole batch of prizes at several International Film Festivals. It was also Israel's original Foreign Language Film submission for the 80th Academy Awards but was rejected because it contained over 50% English dialogue which broke the rules under the American Academy which state that more than half of a films dialogue in a foreign film entry must be in the originating countries own language (the things you learn when writing a blog?)

Kolirins movie tells the heart-warming story of the fading Egyptian Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra whose eight members arrive in Israel to play at the Arab Cultural Centre. After a wee mix up they take the wrong bus and end up in the wrong town, a desolate windswept village in the middle of the Negev Desert. With no means of transport out of the village that day and with no hotels available they are forced to bunk down with the local townsfolk.

Dina and Tawfig.

This movie, which took four years to make, is a comedy with heart. It demonstrates how two so called enemies can come together and forget their differences but avoids sentimentality. Ronit Elkabetz, who plays Dina the owner of the small provincial restaurant where the band members dine, said to the director at the Israeli Film Awards "You remind us of a thing or two that we have already managed to forget. You showed us what would happen if we would stand before each other, Jews and Arabs and look each other in the eye" If only that philosophy were followed, think of the bloodshed  you would avoid!!!  As well Elkabetz who plays the lonely Dina “who refuses to wilt in her desert town” the films other outstanding performance is from Sasson Gabai the Iraq born Jewish actor who one the Best Actor Award for his portrayal of the leader of the Egyptian Orchestra Tawfiq Zacharya an actor whose facial expressions can save a dozen words. Even American jazz trumpeter and singer Chet Bakers mellow Funny Valentine gets a plug. Well worth adding to your rental list along with Lemon Tree if you have not seen it.

Lemon Tree

The emotional depth of Hiam Abbass (The Visitor 2008) performance raises Eran Riklis Israeli drama Lemon Tree (2008) above its simple but absorbing story. It involves a poor Palestinian widow, Salma (Abbass) deprived of her beloved lemon grove by the absurd Israeli security measures following the relocation of Israel’s Minister of Defences to his new house opposite her lemon grove, situated on the green line border between Israel and the West bank. Salma's trees allegedly pose a treat to the Ministers security; orders are issued to remove them. With the help of a young Palestinian lawyer Salma decides to go all the way to the Israeli Supreme Court to try and save her beloved grove. The film reflects the ongoing dark and complex struggle in the Middle East. An intelligent, entertaining and absorbing film with extremely good performances from its cast. World cinema at its best.