Narrative, 2007
Director: Lynn Roth
Israel, USA/ English
88 minutes
This tale of an unlikely friendship between a British soldier and Israeli child amidst the1947 British occupation of Palestine during the time just before the establishment of Israel is based on the novel "Panther in the Basement" by acclaimed writer Amos Oz. At the time, the British were trying to curtail the flood of post-Holocaust refugees into Palestine and relations were more than a little strained.
After a random encounter where young Proffy (Ido Port) is caught out past curfew and found but not arrested by British Sergeant Dunlop, played brilliantly by Alfred Molina, a mentor-like friendship forms. The boy's hatred of the British slowly gives way to a hatred of the British minus one, as he sneaks off to talk with, learn from, and spend time with his friend. The relationship has its costs however when Proffy's neighbors and friends accuse him of being a traitor and passing secrets. It is a story of many things, but at its heart it is an example of the power of friendship.
Lucy Cruell