BETHLEHEM

Israel, 2013, 99 minutes, Colour.
Tsahi Halevi, Shadi Mar'i, Hitham Omari.
Directed by Yuval Adler.

There is no mention of Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus in this film. Rather, this is an Israeli film, dramatizing another aspect of the conflict between Israel and Gaza.

A previous film of 2014, Omar, raised the issue of Palestinians moving from one side of the wall to the other and the possibilities for Israeli security officers to choose young Palestinians as targets for information and collaboration. This is also the theme of Bethlehem.

The protagonist, Sanfur, is seen with a group of young Palestinians, he wearing a bullet proof vest and urging one of his friends to shoot him to show that he did not lack courage and had something of a belief that he was invincible. But, we learn that he has a different story, that from the age of 15, he has been cultivated by an Israeli security officer, Razi, who has now become something of a substitute father-figure. Not that Sanfur does not have a father. In fact, his father has been in prison for subversive activity against Israel and his older brother, Ibrahim, is one of the leaders of Palestinian resistance. The screenplay also raises questions about the relationship of these activists with Hamas as well is with the Palestinian Authority and its leaders.

Razi is a sympathetic character, has a wife and child, and seems particularly attached to Sanfur, meeting him, ensuring that he is out of Palestine during an attack, visiting an aunt in Hebron. The attack is particularly significant as it targets his brother.

As the film progresses, Sanfur is placed in very difficult circumstances, especially for a 17-year-old in this kind of conflict. Part of the difficulty is the influence of Badawi, a Bedouin Palestinian who is not immediately accepted by the others and is antagonistic towards the Palestinian Authority which has not paid him and his fellow-activists.

The dilemma for Sanfur is whether he should stay in Palestine, always running the risk of contact from Israel, or whether she should contact Razi, make a plea to escape into Israel and disappear. Badawi has some ulterior motives because the activists want to retaliate for the death of Ibrahim by a significant counter attack. Such a counter-attack would be for Sanfur to assassinate Razi.

The film plays out this dilemma in a reminder, reinforced by the recent war between Israel and Gaza, that moves towards peace seem impossible at times. It is human stories like this which bring aspects of the conflict to dramatic and emotional attention.

1. The title, in Palestine? Attitudes of Israel? No reference to the Christian links to Bethlehem?

2. An Israeli film, its perspective, on Palestine and Gaza, on the occupation? The role of Israel’s Secret Service? Collaboration and informants? Acts of terrorism and retaliation?

3. The locations, Bethlehem and the initial shooting of the sign by the young men? Scenes in Jerusalem? Secret Service offices? Hospitals? The streets of Palestine? Homes, homes bombed? The countryside, the desert, the atmosphere? Musical score?

4. Sanfur, the other boys, his challenge for shooting wearing the bullet-proof vest? The taunts? Later, shooting, his being wounded? His age, his brother and his leading role in terrorist acts? His father, the past, present, status? In Palestine yet his collaboration? To save his father? Badawi and the other Al Aqsa militants? Sanfur and his links with Hamas?

5. His collaboration, Razi, working for two years, from age 15? To save his father from prison? A dependent relationship with Razi? Razi kind, concern? His skill in eliciting information from Sanfur? Sending him to Hebron on the day of the retaliation, to see his aunt, removing him from the scene? Razi and authorities and their control? Lying? The terrorist bomb in Jerusalem the consequences? Sanfur at the funeral? Razi and the attack in Bethlehem, the death of Sanfur’s brother? Sanfur and his loyalties, the influence of Badawi, trying to work out what was best, each side using him, Badawi and persuading him to kill Razi? Badawi’s threats, posters throughout the land? The option of going to Israel? The dilemmas, going to the hospital, the help, hiding, his father and his shame about his son? Badawi in the garden, arrangements with Razi, the phone calls, the meeting, Sanfur and his plea to go to Israel? What drove him finally to attack Razi, bashing him with the rock? What future for Sanfur?

6. The family, the patriarch, the jokes with his old associates, the threats, Sanfur collaborating to save his father? the meetings? His father shame?

7. Hamas, the military, the links, the claims? The role of the Palestinian Authority, the comfortable headquarters and lives? The officials, driving around, the contacts, threats?

8. The Al Aqsa group, going into action, not paying the fees? Badawi as a bedouin, lookrd down on? Deaths and confrontation, his arrest? The control, the
revolution, the fights?

9. Razi and his service, the personnel, his family at the zoo, with Sanfur, establishing the connection, the chats, eliciting information, sending him to Hebron? The raid, the siege in Bethlehem? his injury? Hospital, contact? The meeting with Sanfur, refusing security, why he would not allowing Sanfur to go into to Israel, continuing to use him? The shock of his death?

10. A film reflecting Palestine-Israel? relationships, especially in the 21st century?