Eli and Ben

Summary

Eli is a feisty 12 year old redhead with a penchant for pranks. His world of playful mischief is disrupted when his father, the Hertzelia city architect, is being investigated for taking bribes. The scandal infiltrates the local papers as well as the school grounds and Eli finds himself in a precarious position, trapped between loyalty and disillusionment, innocence and maturity. Reluctant at first, Eli eventually befriends chief investigator Amos. His determination to clear his father’s name gives way to the pursuit of truth and he is forced to question everything he believes in.

With outstanding performance from Tzahi Grad and a subtle filmic style that captures the nuances of suburban Israeli life, “Eli and Ben” is a bittersweet coming of age tale that explores complex moral dilemmas through the innocent eyes of a young boy.

RATED: PG (coarse language, violence)

Year: 2009
Genre: Narrative
Countries: Israel
Languages: Hebrew with English subtitles
Subject: Coming of Age
Run time: 91 minutes
Format: 35mm

Director: Ori Ravid
Cast: Lior Ashkenazi, Shmuel Edelman, Sigalit Fuchs, Tzahi Grad