Watch Bethlehem
- 2014
- 1 hr 39 min
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7.1 (2,244)
Bethlehem is a thought-provoking and intense drama from 2013 directed by Yuval Adler. The movie is set against the backdrop of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and provides a look into the complex and often ambiguous relationships between Israelis and Palestinians. The story follows Razi (Tsahi Halevi), an Israeli Secret Service officer who runs a network of Palestinian informants in the occupied territories. Razi's main informant is Sanfur (Shadi Mar'i), a teenage boy who is also the younger brother of a wanted Palestinian militant named Ibrahim (Hitham Omari).
As the story progresses, Razi is faced with a moral dilemma when he becomes increasingly attached to Sanfur and becomes conflicted about how to balance his loyalty to his job and his duty to protect the boy with his growing emotions. Sanfur, on the other hand, is struggling with his loyalty to his brother and his feeling of responsibility to both him and Razi, who he sees as a father figure.
The movie is a gripping and intense drama that does not shy away from the harsh realities of the conflict. The characters are complex and multi-dimensional, and the movie does an excellent job of exploring the different perspectives of Israelis and Palestinians. The cinematography is also impressive, effectively capturing the bleak and tense atmosphere that surrounds the story.
One of the most striking things about Bethlehem is how it manages to avoid falling into simplistic black and white narratives about the conflict. Instead, the movie portrays the different characters and their actions as complex and nuanced, showing how their decisions are often shaped by their cultural and political backgrounds.
Another thing that stands out about Bethlehem is the strong performances by the actors. Tsahi Halevi delivers a powerful and nuanced performance as Razi, shrewdly depicting the psychological and emotional turmoil that his character faces. Shadi Mar'i also delivers a stand-out performance as Sanfur, convincingly portraying the conflicting emotions that come with his loyalty to his brother and his relationship with Razi.
Overall, Bethlehem is a powerful and thought-provoking movie that effectively captures the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The movie is not afraid to tackle difficult themes, and it does so in a way that is both intelligent and emotionally resonant. If you are interested in dramas that explore complex social issues, then Bethlehem is definitely worth checking out.
Bethlehem is a 2014 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1 and a MetaScore of 68.