SHELTER

Israel/Germany, 2017, 93 minutes, Colour.
Neta Riskin, Golshifteh Farahani. Yehuda Almogor.
Directed by Eran Riklis.

Sheltered dramatises tensions in the Middle East, especially between Israel and Lebanon, involvement of Hezbollah and of Mossad.

A Lebanese informant, in a relationship with the Hezbollah leader, betrays him to Mossad. Mossad then has to arrange for one of their agents to go to Germany to a safe house where she can babysit the informant for two weeks.

The informant has had plastic surgery and is very irritable. However, she begins to bond with the woman who is caring for her – and who is trying to become pregnant.

There are complications with the Hezbollah leader and his agents trying to track down the informant so that he will be able to get his revenge on her.

There is a range of twists, some rather unexpected, which enhance this espionage story.

Direction is by Eran Riklis, distinguished director films include Lemon Tree, Syrian Bride, Human Resources Manager.

1. The Middle East and thriller? Politics? Betrayals?

2. The liberty settings? The transition to Germany? The city of Hamburg? Cologne? The musical score?

3. The title, the alternate title of “Refuge�?

4. The credibility of the situation, Israel and Mossad, living on in Hezbollah, in form and send information, betrayals? Protection of informants? Hezbollah revenge?

5. Mona, the situation, the information to Israel, her explanation of her background, her mother, her father’s disappearance? The relationship with the Hezbollah chief? The son? The photo, her longing

6. for him? In Naomi’s protection? The apartment in Hamburg? The plastic surgery, the bandages, her irritation with them? A haughty manner, demands, food? Interactions with Naomi, the gradual understanding, liking? Sharing information? Going out for the plumber, Naomi is concerned? A story about her relationship?

7. Naomi, Mossad, her background, her husband, his shielding her and being shot? Her wanting to be pregnant, the injections, the consultation with the doctor? Two weeks with Mona, wary, demanding? The phone calls? Avner as her contact? Mona out into return, the plumber, anxiety? The talking, the friendship, touches of intimacy, sharing stories? Sebastien as the neighbour and her dream about his being an agent? The role of the doctor to take Mona, the gun? The later attack of the Hezbollah agents? Her escape? Contact with Avner, her being wounded? Moved by Mona story, the decision to visit Lebanon on, going to the monastery, the nun, going to the cemetery, Mona’s son and his grave?

8. Niaim, Hezbollah, the search for Mona, the intensity, his orders to his underlings? Tracking her down, the wrong information on the raid? The correct information, the attack, shooting?

9. Naomi, going to Cologne, the Kurdish contact, the information for Naomi?

10. Naomi at the grave, Naim and his arrival, his thinking she was Mona, the betrayal, stopping her to go to Canada, Naomi shooting him?

11. The irony of Mona and her son, alive, flying to Canada?

12. Naomi and her continued planning for the pregnancy?