HUNTING ELEPHANTS

Israel, 2013, 107 minutes, Colour.

Gil Blank, Sasson Gabai, Moni Moshonov, Patrick Stewart, Yael Abercassis. Moshe Igvy.
Directed by Reshef Levi.

Hunting Elephants is an Israeli comedy, focusing on two friends in a home for the elderly. In the past the friends had been acting together before Independence, freedom fighters, even to robbing banks managed by the British.

They are often visited by the grandson of the friends. When the boy’s father dies of a heart attack on the job, the manager of the bank refuses to give the compensation, focusing on aspects of the small print. His widow then goes out with the bank manager – audiences not sure to what purpose.

Also in the picture is a British actor, played by Patrick Stewart (when John Cleese was unable to do the role). He is one of those who build a false reputation on a miniscule career, hoping to get some inheritance from his Israeli cousin. in an emergency this money has been used to pay for the widow of one of them in a coma, he becomes part of the plot.

The first attempt is a failure, with one of the men, supposed to be a hostage, taking hostages but escaping imprisonment because of dementia. The second attempt is success…


1. The blend of comedy drama? Bank robbery genre and conventions? The old men and the young boy – plausible or not?

2. The Israeli setting, homes, the bank and security, the old people's home, the streets, the robbery? The musical score?

3. The old men, in old age, celebrated Israeli actors? Comic and serious? The memories of the past, the bank robberies against the British before Independence? Their knowledge and experience? The prospects of a new bank robbery?

4. Jonathan, 12, life at home, relationship with his mother and father, his being bullied at school, his father at the bank, the good job, security, his heart attack and death? His mother, reaction, the compensation not paid, the small print? The mother going out with the bank manager? Her motivation?

5. Jonathan, his visits to the old people, his being upset, wanting to vindicate his father? The old men in their various financial problems? The plan to rob the bank, knowledge of the defence systems?

6. The robbery, the diversions, the alarm systems, not functioning? Going to the safe? Things going wrong, Nick, his role as a hostage, taking the gun, having his own hostages – the police taking him, possibility of prison, but his dementia?

7. Eliyahu, his robbing the bank, using Jonathan as a victim, maintaining innocence, burning some of the money, the police watching, and his getting away with the rest of the money?

8. Eliyahu and Nick and their backgrounds, the issue of Daniel and Dorit, not having an abortion? His opinion that this ruined Daniel's future and his career? His wife, Roda, in a coma?

9. The entrance of Michael, his relationship with Roda, his background as an actor, pomposity, self-importance, performance, the British background and the Israeli reaction? His imposing himself, the discussions with the old men, his wanting to get his inheritance – but it had been sold to pay for roaders being hospitalised? His decision to be part of the robbery? His role?

10. The comic aspects? The serious aspects of old veterans in Israeli life? Problems of the young boy and his being bullied? The harshness of banks and payments?

11. All combined – and the meaning of the title?