Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
Foxtrot
Director: Samuel Maoz (“Lebanon,” “Total Eclipse”)
Cast: Lior Ashkenazi, Sarah Adler, Yonaton Shiray, Shira Haas
Details: The Israeli entry for the Best Foreign Language Film in 2017 and the winner of the Grand Jury Prize – Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, “Foxtrot” finally breaks out of the festival circuit and opens for much of the public early in 2018. Despite its Oscar chances, Israel’s Minister of Culture has denounced the film for its depiction of Israeli Defense Forces covering up the murder of Arab youths.
The story opens with an affluent Tel Aviv couple learning that their son, a soldier, has died in the line of duty. The narrative follows the parents in the hours after they learn of his death, flashes back to their son’s experiences during his military service manning a checkpoint, and returns to the parents six months later. Despite the serious subject matter, the film is mostly remembered (and being sold on) an extended scene involving the son dancing quite well with his rifle in order to relieve boredom.