Israel 2014, 58 min, HDA Heyman Brothers Films Production
by Nitzan Ophir
Almost Friends
Two girls, one religious Jewish and the other Israeli-Arab, whose father is from the Occupied Territories, start a penpalship, and find themselves deep in a surprising, exciting, and stressful experience.Two girls meet in the “cloud”.
Samar, 12, lives in Lod, a mixed city marred by poverty and crime. She has an Arab Israeli mother and a Palestinian father from the Occupied Territories.
Linor, 11, lives in Tlamim, a religious jewish settlement.
There are only 67 km between Lod and Tlamim, but the girls are separated by a vast national, cultural and ideological abyss. As participants in an education and technology program, their relationship starts from online correspondence. Meeting face-to-face adds an intense component to the two girls’ lives, sweeping them and their families into a profound and complex experience.
Doc Aviv (in competition), Tel Aviv IDFF, VERZIO, Sebastopol, Other Israel FF, Palm Beach, Mar del Plata, Santa Barbara, San Diego, ÉCU Paris, Endeavours, Zlin