Beneath the Silence

Living up to the title of this work by writers/directors Erez Mizrahi, Sahar Shavit Beneath the Silence offers many silences - wonderful theatrical/cinematic moments when what is unsaid weighs much heavier than any spoken dialogue ever can.

The character of Menashe Basson (superbly delivered by Amos Tamam) lives in this silence. He can't express his pain, his suffering, his regret in words. and this very silence stifles his wife Dafna (a wonderful performance by Adva Bolla) and confuses and alienates his young son Shlomi (Roy Fink).

Rather symbolic is Shlomi's long hair (references to Samson?) which his mother refuses to have cut despite authorities advising short hair owing to ever present lice. But Dafna keeps her son's hair insect free. About her husband's emotional infestation she's helpless.

When not in school Shlomi spends his time with his two friends. But his bicycle is broken and his father doesn't fix it...

The film opens on the last night of the Six Day War and then moves to six years later on the eve of the Yom Kipur War. Menashe realises that he is getting lost within himself and is drifting further and further from his wife and son. He does his job - delivery - like an automaton and becomes the outcast of his community.

Beneath the Silence is an excellent portrayal of (what was later diagnosed as post traumatic stress disorder but then was still misunderstood and referred to as) shell shock. The script, direction and acting never fall into the trap of becoming melodramatic. These people's pain is real, their inability to cure it both understandable and moving.

Excellent viewing, thought-provoking and a frightening picture of the aftermaths of war.