Watch The Testament

The Testament from 2017 is an Israeli movie directed by Amichai Greenberg. The movie follows the search of a mysterious testament, which could unravel the secrets and the history of a Jewish community during the WWII. Yoel Halberstam (Ori Pfeffer) is a Jewish historian and researcher who has devoted his life to studying the Holocaust. One day, he receives a package containing a testimonial letter written by his recently deceased mother. The letter reveals that Yoel's father, who is believed to have died in a concentration camp, actually survived the war and decided to live under a new identity in Palestine.

Yoel, stunned by the discovery, decides to investigate further and try to locate his father. He soon comes across a disturbing fact - his father was accused of collaborating with the Nazis for his own survival. Yoel finds himself caught between his desire to discover the truth about his father and his obligation towards the memory of the Holocaust victims.

Throughout the movie, Yoel tries to solve the mystery of the testament with the help of his friend, Malka (Rivka Gur), a librarian who holds crucial information about Yoel's father. Along the way, Yoel encounters Hagit (Hagit Dasberg), a young Holocaust survivor who is struggling to face her past. As Yoel's investigation deepens, he confronts the complications of disclosing the truth and the moral consequences of his discoveries.

The Testament is an intense, thought-provoking movie that explores the heavy themes of memory, identity, and guilt. The movie highlights the complexity of the Holocaust survivors and their descendants' relationship with their past. It shows how traumas and secrets could be passed down from one generation to another, and how they could affect relationships, beliefs, and self-identity.

One of the strengths of The Testament is the portrayal of each character's internal conflicts. Ori Pfeffer gives an outstanding performance as Yoel, a character who is both passionate and conflicted about his work. He manages to convey the struggle of a son who wants to find the truth about his father, but at the same time, is afraid of the consequences of the discoveries. Rivka Gur and Hagit Dasberg also deliver excellent performances as Malka and Hagit, respectively.

Another aspect that makes The Testament a compelling movie is the cinematography. The movie captures the mood of the story, which takes place in a rainy and gloomy atmosphere. The use of lighting and camera angles enhances the dark aspects of the plot, adding to the tension and suspense.

The Testament is not only a movie about the Holocaust; it is a movie about human nature and the quest for truth. It raises profound questions about the blurry line between collaboration and survival, about the duty to remember, and about the role of historical research in shaping our understanding of the past.

In conclusion, The Testament is a must-watch movie for anyone interested in the complexities of Holocaust memory and the impact of the past on the present. The movie is a beautifully crafted story that manages to combine a historical investigation with a deep exploration of human struggles. The movie's ending is open to interpretation, leaving the audience with much to ponder long after the credits roll.

The Testament is a 2019 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.