‘Bethlehem’ cast members on stage
Film focusing on relationship between Shin Bet agent, Palestinian informer takes home Ophir Award for Best Picture. Movie to represent Israel at Academy Awards in Best Foreign Language Film category
Two days after hitting cinema screens across Israel and after winning the feature film competition at the Haifa International Film Festival, Director Yuval Adler’s “Bethlehem” took home the Ophir Award for Best Picture on behalf of the Israeli Academy of Film and Television on Saturday evening.
The thriller, which takes place between Jerusalem and Bethlehem on the backdrop of a wave of terror attacks and the Shin Bet’s battle to thwart them, will represent Israel in February at the Oscars, where it will compete for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
“Bethlehem” was co-written by Adler and former Ynet reporter Ali Waked. The film focuses on Sanfur, a teenage Palestinian boy from Bethlehem whose brother is the commander of the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades in the city, who becomes a Shin Bet informant under the guidance and support of his Israeli operator, Razi. A suicide bombing in Jerusalem and the hunt for its masterminds threaten the close relationship between Razi and Sanfur – and their lives.
Adler’s debut film won a total of six prizes (out of 12 nominations) for Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Film Editing (Ron Omer), Best Casting (Liron Zohar and Naama Zaltzman) and Best Actor in a Supporting Role, which was given to Tsahi Halevi for his portrayal of Razi.
Shhadi Maryee, 19, who plays Sanfur, lost the Best Actor in a Leading Role Award to veteran actor Makram Khoury who won for “Magic Men.” Adler comforted him on stage as he received the Best Director Award: “Shhadi, it’s a good thing you didn’t win. You’re too young.”
“It’s very exciting,” Tsahi Halevi told Ynet. “It’s surprising, just like the entire process I went through with ‘Bethlehem,’ starting with the casting, the rehearsals, the shooting period, up to the audience’s amazing reactions and the film industry’s support. It was a refreshing and challenging experience for me, and so is the film – surprising, refreshing, humane, and an experienced engraved deeply in one’s memory.”
Asked about his future plans, Halevi said: “Just like we did until now, taking one day at a time, one step at a time. The important thing is the way, and what leads us is the dreams.”
