Close to Home

Rating NR Formats DVD Genre drama Starring Neama Shendar, Smadar Sayar Directed by Vardit Bilu, Dalia Hager Publisher IFC

The torment, the pain, which makes one, truly writhe, was expressed quite dramatically in Close to Home. Not pain as in physical pain, but emotional pain. The pain of being forced to do that which one doesn’t wish to. It can be seen, peppered in, weaving from scene to scene, quite majestically. However, it is not alone; there are images of love, friendship, and sisterhood, which connect the soldiers together.

This film goes into detail, regarding life in Israel as a professional soldier, where all people, including women, are required to serve in the army. Members of the Arab population are singled out for inspections, for they, as it has been seen, are the antagonist for terrorist attacks.

The army has created a system where members of the army patrol and check any Arabs that may be in their path, one by one. In one particular patrol unit There is a bit of dissent, within this patrolling unit, for one of the members, Smadar (Smadar Sayar) believes the said rules, which necessitate her to harass innocent people, are repugnant. (There are other soldiers who believe this as well. They are the soldiers who don’t simply follow orders, but think about exactly what they are doing, and then they make their decisions from those conclusions.) However, her partner, Mirit (Naama Schendar) believes rules are rules, and obeys them willingly. The controlling officer however, has ways of breaking most of the dissenters into shape. Therefore, making them obey her will which is the will of the army.

There was a terrorist attack around the vicinity to where Mirit and Smadar patrolled. Neither were truly hurt, but Mirit was knocked on her back by the force of the blast, and Smadar was just shaken up a little, having been so close to were the terrorist attack had taken place. Mirit was helped, by a handsome gentleman, who felt it to be his duty to help his fellow countrymen, due to the current tragedy. From the moment he helped her, she had a crush on him. However, she didn’t have the courage to express her feelings to him. Her co-patroller, Smadar who was now becoming her friend, as well as compatriot, wanted to help her introduce herself to the man she had a crush on. Mirit denied her help, believing she could do it one her on. The process for Mirit was a disaster, she couldn’t get out more than a mere hello, after two tries; however, she told her Smadar that they had quite an interesting conversation.

Towards the end however, it became apparent that Mirit was lying. There was an incident which caused Mirit to be incarcerated, in a military prison. Smadar felt, it was her duty to bring, who she believed was Mirit’s boyfriend to see her, only realizing that he had no knowledge of who Mirit at all.

This movie is a must see for those who are sentimental, like myself. It takes one on a thrill ride of intriguing, adventures, explores the true meaning of friendship, and the life-long bond which accompanies such friendships.