| The Dead of Jaffa | |
| Director: | Ram Loevy |
| Producer: | Itai Tamir |
| Music: | Ran Bagno |
| Cinematography: | Yoram Millo |
| Editing: | Neta Braun |
| Runtime: | 96 minutes |
| Country: | Israel |
| Language: | Hebrew |
The Dead of Jaffa (Hametim Shel Yafo) is an Israeli drama film directed by Ram Loevy. The film premiered at the 2019 Jerusalem Film Festival.[1] [2] It was nominated for the Ophir Award for Best Film.[3]
Three siblings are clandestinely transported from the West Bank into Jaffa, Israel, to reside with their purported uncle George (Yussuf Abu Warda) and his wife, Rita (Ruba Blal). Following the death of their mother and the imprisonment of their father, the three children are smuggled through checkpoints, arriving to the astonishment of Rita. George and Rita, a childless couple, experience contrasting reactions to the children's presence; Rita is excited by the prospect of motherhood, while George is apprehensive about the potential repercussions from authorities pursuing illegal immigrants from the West Bank.
The eldest sibling, Talal (Jihad Babay), rejects the necessity of hiding and ventures freely in the streets. He discovers an abandoned house near George and Rita's residence. To deter Talal, George claims the house is haunted by the ghosts of Jaffa's deceased residents. Intrigued, Talal shares the house and its history with his siblings.
Concurrently, an English filmmaker, Jerry (Johnny Phillips), is in Jaffa filming a movie about his parents' lives in 1947 British-occupied Palestine. Jerry casts George as a Palestinian doctor, believing he is ideal for the role. While George manages his convenience store and prepares for his role, Rita bonds with the children and shares stories about her sister, Doris (Maysa Daw). Rita grows increasingly attached to the children and takes them to the beach, their first visit. However, the fear of police discovery looms. George takes two children with him, while the defiant Talal continues to explore.
Talal's explorations lead him to observe Vera (Maya Flamm), an actress playing a young version of her grandmother in Jerry's film. The scene depicts a pregnant British woman seeking an abortion from a Palestinian doctor, who refuses and refers her to Tel Aviv. The scene culminates with the woman's partner, a British soldier, killing the doctor. Talal watches George's character repeatedly endure dehumanization and death during retakes, prompting him to question George's participation.
The next filming day involves a protest scene. Seeking authenticity, Jerry films Palestinian actors protesting against British soldiers. Talal, moved by the scene, joins the protest with genuine fervor. Jerry, impressed by Talal's raw emotion, focuses the camera on him. Talal's impassioned behavior incites the actors, leading the protest off the set and clashing with Israeli police. The confrontation results in Talal's accidental death.
Talal's death devastates the family and reveals the children's illegal status to the authorities. The police, unrelenting, plan to deport the children. George, Rita, and Doris stand resolutely to protect them, despite the imminent threat.