A Wing and a Prayer

The filmmaker, Boaz Dvir, has done a great job of bringing out the adventurous tone of the story. All the interviewed people are passionate about the role they played in delivering the weapons and fighter planes. Also the parallax, albeit a bit too fast in motion, really brings to life the still pictures. A big part of this film is still images, and that's fair because the delivery to Israel was not recorded in video, for the major part. Also, Dvir's personal connection to the film (his grandfather), adds another layer of depth to the story. Even though the film is a documentary, it is also the story of a man trying to know more about his roots- where he came from, and I think this personal touch makes this film all the better.

The topic of Israel is a complex one and has been since its inception. However, while the American attitude towards Israel is friendly with the current administration, it was not so amiable at Israel's inception, which this documentary makes clear. The story of Al Schwimmer is not well-known in the American history books, yet it's such an influential one. This documentary sheds light on the story and really paints the picture of what that time was like.

UNLIKE the fictional, "for profit" version of this story by Nancy Spielberg, called Above and Beyond, THIS documentary is spot on! It includes all the players Jewish and Non, that led to the inception of the Israeli Airforce. Mr Dvir also makes sure to mention the involvement of "Charlie Winters", a non Jew, who spent 18 months in prison, the only contributor who went to jail, who without the use of his B17 bomber aircraft, it has been said, that Israel might not exist today!

"A Wing and a Prayer" also has the only interview of the great Al Schwimmer, the "father of the Israeli Airforce" and the man who organized the whole event. Sadly Al passed away prior to the release of this film. I'm sure he would be very proud of the efforts and accuracy of Mr Dvir's film.

Thank the heavens for film maker Boaz Dvir for preserving and promoting the factual legacies of all the brave persons involved with the creation of the Israeli Air Force and the creation of the State of Israel.

A must see for all Jews, Non Jews, history buffs, or anyone that loves a "Rocky-esqe" movie where the underdog comes out on top!

This is a story full of touching for me while I was watching it. Before I watched the film, I was not so clear about that history of those kind of secret part of the WWII. Via interviews of Scwimmer, I could imagine how hard for them to survival at that time, let alone building their own country. What makes me feel so powerful is some old videos related alternated in the whole film, which brought me to that history frame to see how great Schwimmer and his men had done.

A WING AND A PRAYER tells an amazing story. It tells the story of what would otherwise go unknown by the public without this documentary. Schwimmer and those who helped him really inspired me with their actions. The message that ordinary people can make extraordinary changes in the world is seen through Schwimmer's efforts to supply aide. This doc poses an interesting question as to who can make a difference, and what that can do for the world around them. I recommend this film to anyone who wants to see how history can be changed without even knowing. I enjoyed the stories of these men and how they reflect back on their mission.