Bethlehem

Set in Bethlehem during the current Arab-Israeli conflict, Yuval Adler's film (cowritten with Ali Wakad) concentrates on the life of seventeen-year-old Sanfur (Shadi Mar'i) an Israeli Arab trying to survive in the midst of almost impossible conflict. Cultivated at an early age by Israeli Secret Service officer Razi (Tsahi Halevi) to be a spy for the Israeli cause, he reports on the activities of the Palestine Liberation Front and Hamas. At the same time he fulfills the same role for the PLF, led by thuggish man Badawi (Hitham Omari) who has known Sanfur since childhood. Sanfur twists and turns, telling the stories that both Razi and Badawi want to hear until the complications of his life become too difficult to manage, with tragic consequences.

BETHLEHEM looks at the ways in which Sanfur's life is dependent on family values as he is morally obliged to avenge the death of his older brother İbrahim (Tarik Kopty), while at the same time trying to conceal his association with Razi from his father Nasser (George Iskandar). Familial traditions are so strong that the younger siblings have little or no power of self-determination. Hence we feel for Sanfur as his face becomes more and more contorted with pain as he tries to maintain an urbane façade while fulfilling impossible tasks.

As far as the civil war is concerned, the film suggests that involvement is very much a badge of male power. By carrying guns and patrolling the streets in search of enemies, the young man (Palestinian and Israeli alike) feel that they are somehow committed to a cause, giving them the excuse to indulge in pointless violence. Sanfur becomes embroiled in that culture, even though he is manifestly unsuited for the task.

Set in a series of dingy rooms and dark passages in a ruined city, the film creates an underworld in which concepts of "good" and "evil," or "right" and "wrong," simply do not exist. No one, it seems, can grow up unaffected (or should it be corrupted) by the civil war, which seems never-ending, despite continued calls for a ceasefire.

I was lucky enough to attend the TIFF premiere of "Bethlehem" and I was blown away. In the past 10 or so years, the Israeli film world has boomed and seen rise to several internationally acclaimed films. It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if "Bethlehem" joined the ranks of "Waltz with Bashir", "Ajami", and "Footnote" on that list of globally celebrated modern Israeli movies. Each aspect of this film was crafted with such poise and precision, it carried itself with the majesty that only a truly talented filmmaker could give it. Yuval Adler's incomparable debut at the helm of a motion picture is so incredible that I have to personally thank him for the pleasure of watching his film. It was a privilege to have lived within it's walls. Bethlehem is the story of the relationship between an Israeli secret service officer and his informant, the fiery younger brother of the head of a Palestinian militia. As their relationship wanes and waxes to the tunes of perfectly paced military action sequences and beautifully scripted emotive developments, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary movie. It's as much of a political commentary as it is a story. Yuval Adler and Ali Waked's incredible script leads the audience through the winding story of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. They lead us through the maze of violence, through the maze of political and social uproar and arrive at an ultimate conclusion. No one will win if things continue this way. Both sides must step back and look at their actions and see what they are causing. Both sides must put their arms down for a moment. If things continue as violently as they are, no one will win. It's a film that doesn't take sides. The Israelis are seen at times through the eyes of a Palestinian, a bully-like entity smashing walls with trucks, forcing their grip on the Palestinians. The Palestinians are seen at times through the eyes of an Israeli, as violent and explosive terrifying militants who aren't afraid to kill to claim the entire land for themselves. At the end of the film, though, everyone is naked. Everyone looks so human it's saddening. It's enough of an emotional punch to leave a lump in the audiences throat. It's enough to think, what is this fighting for? "Bethlehem" doesn't denounce supporting a side, but it does stress to learn more about each side before the support is given to them. It should be targeted towards high-school age and older students. People that are just beginning to pull back the veil on the social and political landscape. "Bethlehem"'s message and delivery is perfect. Incredible performances by all facets of the film. It will be a terrible crime if this film is not up for the Best Foreign Language Oscar. One of the best foreign films I have ever seen. It was a pleasure to experience and I will cherish this movie for a long time to come.

In a fascinating coincidence this excellent film,and Hany Abu-Assad's even better 'Omar' appeared at nearly the same time. Both tell similar stories, one from the Israeli perspective and one from the Palestinian. Both tell of a young man recruited (or forced) into being an informer for the Israelis. We see these young men torn in multiple directions, risking their lives if they are uncovered, trying to play one side against the other, finding themselves drawn ever deeper in a morass they are powerless to stop.

In Bethlehem the 'hero' is only a teenager, and an immature one at that. His older brother is an accomplished terrorist/freedom fighter, leaving his little brother Sanfur without much of an identity of his own, he seems overlooked by his family and unimportant to his community. Ironically in many ways Sanfur's closest relationship is to his middle-aged Israeli 'handler', who also clearly has fatherly feelings towards the youth, further complicating the relationship.

The acting is generally excellent, and there's a lot of thriller like tension to go along with the human drama. I actually saw this and 'Omar' within days of each other, and I would recommend the same approach to others. Seeing the two sides of the same coin gives a feeling of greater insight into the conundrum that is the middle-east. Also, both directors are careful not to paint black and white portraits of either side, both treat all involved as human, so the differences in perspective are both fascinating and subtle.

It is not a political movie.

No positive, no negative of Arab/Jews conflict.

No left, no right its the Reality.

they Just made ​​an excellent film, good acting. Beautiful plot.

I loved the acting of Tsahi Halevi-"razi"- the agent, he was very good.

The action Scene are very good.

Excellent dialog. Who loved The Departed will love this movie.

the Viewer Continue to think about the movie after leaving the Cinema.

I enjoyed very much from the film.

Highly recommended.

The first scene involves some Palestinian boys engaged in an updated version of "chicken" in the desert outside of Jerusalem. Instead of some teenagers in the 1950's driving their cars off some embankment as in "Rebel without a Cause", these boys are using semi-automatic weapons and a rather worn "bullet-proof" vest. The main character of the film, Sanfur (played by Shadi Mar'i in completely convincing performance), is a Palestinian teenager who dons the vest and instructs his fellow peers to shoot him, if they have the guts. This is a game but a very brutal one. When some of the adults appear on the scene, the kids scatter. But I think the point is the adults are playing at the same brutal game, daring each other to fire at one another.

The film involves three groups: two militia groups of Palestinians who are somewhat at odds with each other, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, and their common enemy, the Israels. Sanfur is literally caught between all three who seem to be playing a very deadly game of tug-of-war. His family is sympathetic to the Palestinian Authority but he socializes with people in Hamas, the more radical of the two. At the same time, Sanfur is good friends with Razi (Tsahi Halevi in an equally compelling performance), who is in reality an Israeli agent. His agency's duty is to infiltrate the Palestinian regions near Jerusalem and Bethlehem and root out members of the Palestinian militia groups. While Ravi appears to be Sanfur's friend at one level, the Israeli is using the boy to obtain information about Hamas.

The conflict begins with a decision to hunt down and assassinate a Hamas leader name of Ibrahim, whom the Israelis have been chasing for a year but is also, unfortunately, Sanfur's brother. Sanfur finds himself caught between the radical Hamas leaders, his family which appear to be on the moderate side of the conflict, and Ravi the Israeli, who has become like a father-figure for the boy. Now the boy is torn between all these loyalties. The crucial moment of the film occurs when Sanfur forces Ravi to take a kind of test of friendship. Will he succeed or fail? Will the boy side with the Palestinian authority, Hamas or with the Israeli agent?

An incredibly compelling film, but a very dark one about the current hostilities between Israelis and Palestinians. The acting is outstanding, and I have read that some of the actors had never performed in a film before. The viewer feels as if he or she is with these people, almost spying on their conversations and actions. There is never a dull moment, but this is not that kind of film where the good guys and the bad guys are neatly spelled out for us.