Review of Bethlehem (2013) by Thomas W — 11 Aug 2014

Very similar to the 2013 Oscar-nominated film from Palestine, this Israeli film focuses upon a young male Palestinian who has been persuaded by an Israeli agent to be an informant of his older brother's actions and ties to some terrorist cells within the occupied West Bank wreaking havoc on innocent Israeli civilians.

Torn and emotional over what to do, the young Sanfur is loyal to his older brother buy dislikes his associates and has also been welcomed with open arms by the Israeli agent making him feel special and important.

When his brother supposedly starts receiving money from Hamas, his fate is sealed and Sanfur can do little about it. As tensions rise and situations become more dangerous, Sanfur must decide who he can trust most.

The film is nicely made (but subtitled in Hebrew and Arabic) and it wisely and deftly allows its audience to keep an open mind as people on BOTH sides of the conflict can either be trusted or cannot. The story isn't as two-sided as it is human but it has no problem showing us how twisted politics are all over the planet.

(it isn't Israelis vs. Palestinians as they would like to see all of these troubles fade away ... it is politicians vs. politicians trying to save their own skins and carve out some capital for themselves -- the innocents on both sides are the victims).