Eli and Ben

Director: Ori Ravid
Israel 2009 89 mins
Language: Hebrew with English subtitles
Cast: Starring Lior Ashkenazi

Eli is a mischievous 12 year old, preoccupied with playing tricks on his teachers and his crush on the most popular girl in class. His cushioned reality collapses when his beloved father, Ben, is arrested on suspicion of accepting bribes. Convinced of his father's innocence, Eli sets out to convince the celebrated police inspector in charge of the investigation, that, for once, he is wrong.

As if this weren’t enough, events at school take a turn for the worse and Eli is torn between friendship and responsibility. This roller-coaster journey takes Eli to unexpected places as he tries to negotiate between love and trust, honesty and corruption. A sensitive, coming-of-age story with an accomplished cast including Lior Ashkenazi (Late Marriage, Walk on Water), and an outstanding performance by Yuval Shevah, who plays Eli with confidence and charm. This bittersweet family drama will win the hearts of both young and old alike. NA&AK

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