Beyond the Walls
| Me'Ahorei Hasoragim | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Uri Barbash |
| Produced by |
Rudy Cohen Katriel Schori |
| Written by |
Benny Barbash Uri Barbash Eran Preis |
| Starring |
Arnon Zadok Mohammed Bakri Assi Dayan Rami Danon |
| Music by | Ilan Virtzberg |
| Cinematography | Amnon Salomon |
| Edited by | Tova Asher |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 103 minutes |
| Country | Israel |
| Language | Hebrew |
| Box office | $400,000[1] |
Beyond the Walls (Hebrew: מאחורי הסורגים, MeAhorei HaSoragim, lit. "Behind the Bars") is a 1984 Israeli film directed by Uri Barbash co-wrote with Eran Preis. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.[2]
Plot
The story takes place in the high-security block of the central Israel Prison Service jail. Uri and Issam are the leaders of the Israeli and Palestinian prisoner groups, respectively. After a musical performance in the prison, a row breaks out between Hoffman, a Jewish inmate, and a Palestinian. When Hoffman is killed, the security officer initiates a fight between the sides, pinning the blame for the murder on Issam's cell. Doron, the only Jewish prisoner in the Arab cell, is asked to sign a document implicating Issam in the crime, but refuses and commits suicide. He leaves a note saying that his cell was not responsible for the crime. As a result, Uri and Issam begin a general hunger strike, and make personal sacrifices in order not to break it.
Characters
- Uri (Arnon Zadok) is serving his second sentence for armed robbery, and has been a criminal from a young age. He is the leader of all Jewish prisoners in his cellblock.
- Issam (Muhammad Bakri) is a Fatah terrorist who turns moderate in prison. He is the leader of the Palestinian cell.
- Asaf (Asi Dayan) is a former IDF officer sentenced for contacting a PLO agent in Europe. He is initially disliked and distrusted by both sides, but normalizes his relations with Uri.
- "The Songbird" (Boaz Sharabi) is a talented singer and musician from Uri's cell, and the first prisoner to participate in a national music festival in Israel.
See also
- List of submissions to the 57th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of Israeli submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
References
- ↑ ISRAELI FILM CAPTURES VENICE CRITICS' PRIZE BORSTEN, JOAN. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 04 Sep 1984: g3.
- ↑ "The 57th Academy Awards (1985) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2013-10-30.