ROOM 514

Israel, 2012, 91 minutes, Colour.
Asia Naifeld, Ohad Hall, Guy Kapulnik, Udo Persi.
Directed by Sharon Bar- Ziv.

Room 514 is one of a number of Israeli films around 2012, focusing on the Israeli Army and its behaviour, especially towards civilians and Arabs.

It is set principally in the one room, an interrogation room, room 514. There are a few scenes outside this room and a scene on a bus, breaking the sense of confinement.

The important theme is that the interrogator is a woman, looked down on by the man she is interrogating, as well as by the army authorities. She has only a few more weeks to serve and is determined to make an impact with getting the man interrogated to admit the brutal behaviour of a special army squad. She does, breaking him down, the head of the squad commits suicide, and she is required to stay in the Army pending an enquiry.

She is in a relationship with a fellow-officer who is engaged to be married and wants her to lie to his fiancee.

The film is an interesting look at Israel and its attitude towards its armed forces.

1. The focus of the room, the interrogation, the interrogator, the man questioned? Small dimensions of the room, most of the action taking place there? Scenes outside, the offices, the bus?

2. The atmosphere of Israel, 21st century, the Israeli Army, special squads, treatment of Arabs? Called to account legally, the army wanting to protect itself?

3. Anna, her age, experience, about to leave the army? her first interrogation job? Her self-confidence, her relationship with eraz, his being engaged, his meeting his fiancee and wanting Anna to lie? Her agreeing? Their sexual encounters and intensity in the office?

4. The young man being interrogated, Nimrod, his looking down on Anna because she was a woman, chauvinistic attitudes? His refusal to answer? The intensity of the interrogation, and her questions, her threats? His character, information, the special squad, the treatment of people, especially Arabs?

5. The information about the leader, his role, attitudes, the news of his killing himself?

6. The general, his coming personally, warning Anna to give up the interrogation, her refusal? Eraz and his warning Anna? The pressure on her to give up? The reasons for her persevering?

7. The scene in the bus, talking amicably after the interrogation?

8. The news of the suicide of Davidi, the officer in charge of the special squad?

9. Her devastation about the suicide? Her being blamed? The officials not wanting her to leave the military? To be available for the hearings?

10. The perspective of Israel, military, hardline, tensions at the beginning of the 21st century?