BIG BAD WOLVES

Israel, 2013, 110 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Aharon Keshales, Navot Papushado.

Big Bad Wolves advertises itself as one of Quentin Tarantino’s best films of 2013. He might well have been attracted by the basic situation, the intense characters, interrogations, environments. However that may be, this is a serious look at a situation in Israel.

A serial killer, sexually targeting young girls, has not been caught. A police officer, strong personality and relentless, goes on a mission to find the killer, targeting a mild-mannered schoolteacher he arrests and brutally interrogates. When the video of this goes on to You Tube, he is sacked and a replacement appointed. However, he continues the search, arresting his suspect, brutally interrogating him. Then a new character appears on the scene, the father of the latest victim, just as relentless in his search and interrogation.

The schoolteacher is released, goes home – and it would appear that despite his protests, his mild-manner at school, he is actually the perpetrator.

1. An award-winning film in Israel? The Israeli settings? City, homes, school, police precincts? Authentic atmosphere?

2. The title, with reference to abuses, with reference to rogue police and interrogators?

3. The basic situation, sexual aggression, the victims? The scandal in Israel? Media handling? Police concern?

4. The focus on Miki, his role in the police, strong personality, aggressive, affected by the sex crimes, his fixation on Dror, convinced that he was guilty? The investigation, the interrogation, the brutality, it’s being filmed, going on to You Tube? The consequences, his being sacked? His substitute, Miki’s anger, still pursuing his investigation and vengeance?

5. Dror, mild-mannered, teacher, his work at the school, his reputation, his home life? His being abducted, interrogated, tortured? His maintaining his innocence?

6. The arrival of the father, on a mission, relentless and ruthless, the confrontation with Dror? His personal anguish?

7. Dror, released, going home, seen at home, the collection, his being guilty despite his protestations?

8. An atmospherical book at a crime situation, the role of the police, rogue police, grieving parents? The perpetrators – cool, yet seemingly innocent?