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FOR MY FATHER
Directed by Dror Zahavi
YEAR 7 | FILM 10
Israel, Germany | 2008 | Thriller | Hebrew | English Subtitles
Nominated for 7 Israeli Academy Awards
"Transcendent!... the most powerful and moving film I can ever remember seeing." --Eric Alterman, The Huffington Post
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Running Time: 100 Minutes
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Synopsis
Tarek, a Palestinian forced on a suicide mission in Tel Aviv to redeem his father's honor, is given a second chance when the fuse on his explosive vest fails to detonate. Forced to spend the weekend in Tel Aviv awaiting its repair, Tarek must live amongst the people he was planning to kill. To his surprise he connects with several Israelis on the outskirts of society, including the beautiful Keren, who has cut off contact with her Orthodox family and upbringing. With nothing to lose, Tarek and Keren open up to one another, and an unlikely love blooms between two isolated and damaged individuals, raised to be enemies.
However, with the deadly load of explosives still strapped to him, he must spend 48 hours in the city, caught between the men that sent him—who can blow up his bomb remotely, the Israeli police patrolling the streets and his new-found companions. Spending this time with Keren and his new friends, Tarek discovers the spark of life returning to fill his soul, but when the weekend ends, Tarek must make the decision of his life.
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DVD Special Features
Biographies of Director and Actors
Short Film: ALI & THE BALL by Alex Holmes
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“Transcendent!…the most powerful and moving film I can ever remember seeing.” --Eric Alterman/ The Huffington Post - Review
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"A gripping but tender political and humanistic drama." --Raymond Murray/ Philadelphia FF and Cinefest - Review
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Jeff in Seattle - Customer Review
A would be suicide bomber in Tel Aviv gets his detonator on the fritz. Forced to spend 48 hours in "enemy territory", he meets people who are marginalized by Israeli society. Not only he connects, he falls in love with Keren. What will he do after his 48 hours are up, when his own parents' lives are on the line? Find out by watching "For My Father". Awesome little gem of a film!
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Dain Binder - Customer Review
For My Father/Shabat Shalom Maradona (2008) is an absorbing and complex quest of unyielding emotion, choice, and discovery. Given the choice of regaining your father's honor and cementing your legacy or alienating your family for a person you just met that rekindles your spirit, which would you choose? What if the action for your father would hurt this other person, but not hurting the other person would result in your father's death? All the while your life is on the line! This is Terek (Shredi Jabarin), a young handsome caring man that has found himself in an impossible situation. Terek arrives in Tel Aviv, Israel and goes to a crowded market where he closes his eyes and prays as he slightly pulls up his sleeve to expose a trigger. He is a Palestinian suicide bomber. Click, click, click - the trigger is broken. He briskly walks away and around a corner to call the mission planner who wants to activate the vest of explosives via a cell phone link but is convinced to wait for him to fix the device and properly use it. Under the cover of a construction worker needing a new trigger for a nearby work site he visits an electrician named Katz (Shlomo Vishinsky). Katz does not have the part and orders it for delivery in two days. With reports of a terrorist crossing into Israel coming over the radio and police cars driving by, he offers to fix Katz' leaky roof in exchange for the part to keep himself hidden. Across the street is Keren (Hili Yalon) who runs a small shop after being disowned from her family. They immediately hit it off when he goes over for coffee and we see his human side for the first time as his face lights up when talking to her. Terek has diner with Katz where he feels compassion and sorrow for him after hearing of his sons death. Later that night Terek comes to Karen's aid when she is being harassed by some men for how her life doesn't conform to societies expectations. Tarek is more alive than ever as their feelings continue flourish. He is being shown life by the people he came to kill - he must decide what he is going to do. 9.5 out of 10 - This film dares to reveal the human side of both sides. There is no political message, no taking sides, and little history of the conflict in the region - it is a story of people. I was kept engaged as the characters interacted and the story unfolded all the way to the ending credits. Perceptually riveting! For My Father was directed by Dror Zahavi and written by Ido Dror and Jonatan Dror; Hebrew and Arabic with English subtitles. Dain Binder www.dainsmoviereviews.com
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 and Keren (Hili Yalon) on Bike.JPG)
 on Beach.JPG)
 with Posters.JPG)
 in Shop.JPG)
 with Keren (Hili Yalon).JPG)
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