DRIVER/ BEFORE MEMORY

Israel, 2017, 87 minutes, Colour.
Moshe Folkebflick, Manual Elkaslassy.
Directed by Yehonatan Indusrsky.

The driver of the title is an Orthodox Jewish man who has suffered the accidental death of his young son, his grieving wife leaving him, his having to take care of his nine-year-old daughter.

We first see the man as a literal driver, with a book of addresses of wealthy Jews, coaching men to tell a story to elicit funds from a sympathetic, if gullible, wealthy man. The driver is dissatisfied with his worker and illustrates how a sob story can be told, quite moving.

In fact, the driver has a list of contacts who also go out on the make, telling stories, getting donations, the money being shared with the driver. There is also a sequence where an old lady is on the phone and is persuaded to tell a story – again a very sad story.

The driver is at home with his daughter, who goes to school, but they lack money and he takes her on his trips, she sitting in the back, listening to the stories, meeting the men who go out to do their story-begging. Often, she is quite shrewd, making astute comments about their situation to elicit sympathy.

There is a sequence when they knock on a rich man’s door, are welcomed, given refreshments, the little girl telling a story, and the father then expanding on the story – and, despite protests, the wealthy man gives him a donation.

As the story continues, father and daughter go for a ride on a Ferris wheel, continue their escapades.

The film is rather slowly paced, especially with the driver and he is unfolding his stories – a film very much of stories.