Film Movement Straps ‘For My Father’ to Slate

I have a penchant for films that delve into storylines where the notion of sacrifice is explored via martyrdom or catch-22 type situations of, to kill or not to kill. The idea of a person duck-taping sticks of dynamite to their body is so foreign to North American audiences, that in a way, the lure of such films is how the act psychological manifests itself inside the film’s protagonist. I think back to classics such as Pontecorvo’s Battle of Algiers and more recently, Hany Abu-Assad’s Paradise Now with today’s announcement. Film Movement have strapped themselves to Dror Zahavi‘s For My Father (Sof Shavua B’Tel Aviv), the picture about possibly altering the destination of one’s actions will be set up for an eventual limited theatrical run late in the calender year with their usual cable release quickly right after. The dubbed German trailer below spells out acts I and II, but leaves us guessing in the final act. 

Are there any of our readers who have seen this film? What did you think?

For My Father focuses on Terek, a Palestinian forced on a suicide mission in Tel Aviv to redeem his father’s honor, is given a second chance when the fuse on his explosive vest fails to detonate. Forced to spend the weekend in Tel Aviv awaiting its repair, Terek must live amongst the people he was planning to kill. To his surprise he connects with several Israelis on the outskirts of society, including the beautiful Keren, who has cut off contact with her Orthodox family and upbringing. With nothing to lose, Terek and Keren open up to one another, and an unlikely love blooms between two isolated and damaged individuals, raised to be enemies.

However, with the deadly load of explosives still strapped to him, he must spend 48 hours in the city, caught between the men that sent him—who can blow up his bomb remotely, the Israeli police patrolling the streets and his new-found companions. Spending this time with Keren and his new friends, Terek discovers the spark of life returning to fill his soul, but when the weekend ends, Terek must make the decision of his life.