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The Other Son, un film to keep in mind
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Dealing with the Palestinian-Israeli conflict without showing scenes of physical violence may seem naive or simplistic to someone, but the director Lorraine Levy shows in her film that this is possible. It seems as if she had opted for psychological violence, that one the characters suffer when, by an error, they have to undergo great emotional stress and are seen as a threat by the representatives of the established order.
Young Joseph belongs to a Jewish family and hopes to become a musician. During a medical examination to enlist in the Israeli army, he discovers that, in fact, is the biological child of a Palestinian family from the West Bank. Both women gave birth during a bombing in Haifa, but the medical personnel exchanged the babies when they evacuated the children. Yacine, who has grown up in the Palestinian family, returns from Paris where he has finished high school and wants to study medicine. His family is very proud of his decision.
The news that their real parents belong to the side of those who are considered their enemies so far will shock these two young men and force them to rethink their values, beliefs and convictions.
Their plight will allow them to put themselves in the place of the other. So, they will recognize that hatred and intolerance can be overcome through tolerance and knowledge. In this difficult process, they will have the love and understanding of both mothers who, besides having to deal with the emotional shock of his new reality, will have to plead with their husbands, who are much more reluctant to accept a child educated in the values of their enemies.
The film, which begins with dissatisfaction, fear, pain and lack of acceptance, will finally give way to tolerance, respect and condescension. Moreover, it also avoids sentimentality.
Joseph and Yacine embody hope and idealism. Although the story is hard to believe, it serves as a wake-up call.
Texts: Núria Farré. facebook@cinemaperaestudiants.cat
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