Bethlehem (***)

A sort of companion to Omar, the excellent Palestinian film, Bethlehem tells the story of Razi (Tsahi Halevi), who works for Israel’s security agency Shin Bet, and Sanfur (Shadi Mar'i), a Palestinian teenager who acts as one of the informants Razi manages. Over time, the two have developed something like a father-son relationship. But it is Razi’s job to exploit that relationship to catch terrorists, while Sanfur knows that his assistance to Razi places him in danger if it ever became known.

Directed by Yuval Adler, a first-time Israeli director, this isn’t quite as accomplished as Omar, but it is certainly worthwhile on its own. Both films explore the intersection of the personal and the political, and both involve informants, but Bethlehem has a broader scope in some ways, not only showing the viewpoints of its two main characters, but also conflicts among the Palestinian Authority, the more radical Hamas, and the extreme al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades. Among the actors, almost all of whom are appearing on screen for the first time, the strongest impressions are made by Halevi and Hitham Omari, as a Bedouin who leads a group of al-Aqsa fighters. The subtle tension between the Bedouin and the Arabs adds another element to this suspenseful drama.

IMDb link

viewed 3/19/14 7:30 pm at Gershman Y [PFS screening] and posted 3/30/14