POLICEMAN
Israel, 2011, 106 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Nadav Lapid.
Policeman is a film that divided audiences in Israel in 2011. At that time, there were protests about wealth and the separation between rich and poor in Israel itself. The protests were widespread, but this film is a small focus, symbolising the protest. It had nothing to do with Arabs, despite initial suspicions. The protest was by young Israelis against wealthy Israel.
The film was divided into two parts: the first half shows one of the police, his tenderness towards his pregnant wife, their ordinary life, families. It also shows a group of Counter-terrorist police and their camaraderie, getting on well together. They have been accused of using more violence than necessary but have a plan that their sick colleague, suffering from terminal cancer, will sign the documents to say that he was responsible. He agrees to this.
In the meantime, we are introduced to a group of protesters, idealistic, allegedly not wanting violence and preferring to use poetry and images, speeches, to plead to wealthy Israelis. The leader comes from a wealthy background. In the event, they choose to protest at a wedding, taking a billionaire and his wife captive, as well as their son and his bride, taking them from the ceremony itself and the joy of the photographs. They interrogate their captors, preach at them. One of the group has been shown in more detail, going home to his father who was a protester in the past, who then joins his son and the group in this protest, realising that they will be killed.
All comes together when the Counter-terrorist squad arrives, plans the attack, chooses their weapons. They do attack and all the protesters are killed. And that is where the film leaves its audience.
1. An interesting Israeli film? For Israeli audiences? At the time? Protests and marches and criticism of the gap between rich and poor? Symbolised in this film? A film for international audiences?
2. Israel, Tel Aviv, families and homes, celebrations? The life of the Counter-terrorist group, on the town, at the beach, camaraderie? The contrast with the protesters, their wealthy backgrounds, their meetings? The world of the wealthy, the wedding, the billionaires? The confrontation in the bare room? The attack by the unit?
3. The structure of the film: the introduction to Yaron and his wife, the counterterrorists, their work together, the authorities, the pending case, responsibilities? The transition to the terrorists, their work together, the plans, Oded and his father, the build-up to the confrontation? The wedding, the two groups coming together in conflict?
4. Yaron, the opening with his wife, tenderness, soothing her with oil, anticipation of the baby? Their going out, the meals, the family? Yaron and his character, with his friends, fooling around, wrestling, at the beach, at the cafes, drinking? The particular characters, distinctive? The colleague with the cancer, taking him to the hospital, the diagnosis? His stiff upper lip? The plan that he should take the blame for the accusations of their violence in the arrest of a terrorist? Reporting to the authorities who accepted this? Yaron and his love for his wife – but his flirting with the waitress at the cafe?
5. The protest group, the young girl, her background, her family, using poetry and imagination to make a point? The writing, the rehearsing? The leader, his wealthy background? The other member of the group? Oded and the scenes at home, the background of his father and protest, his father locking him in the room? Finally letting him out, participating in the terrorism?
6. The wedding, the photos, everybody included, the background of people involved, companies, wealth, husband and wife, the son, the bride?
7. The protesters, taking the two couples, cuffing them, in the basement room? The accusations? Reading the declarations? The reaction of the people, especially the bride and the girl abusing her, not a woman only a bride? The billionaire, herded and his panic, shooting him dead? The reactions of the group? The father and his words, knowing that they would die? The focus on the girl, her seeming fragility, her determination?
8. Yaron and the birth of his child?
9. The assembling of the Counter-terrorist police, the plans, the weapons, the attack, opening the door, the shootings?
10. The critique of class distinctions in Israel, rich and poor, the role of the police, terrorism? Internal terrorism?
