This charming coming-of-age tale is set in 1947 Jerusalem just months before Israel becomes a state. The screenplay, written and directed by Lynn Roth, is based on the novel “Panther in the Basement” by world-renowned author Amos Oz. The film screens at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 6, at the White Theatre as part of the 13th annual Kansas City Jewish Film Festival.
Proffy Liebowitz (Ido Port), a militant, precocious and sensitive 11-year-old Sabra, wants nothing more than for the occupying British to leave the Promised Land. Proffy (short for professor) and his two friends form a secret club and spend their summer holiday plotting ways to terrorize the unwanted British troops.
The British have imposed a nightly curfew to curb the violence instigated by the Irgun and Haganah resistance movements. One night Sergeant Dunlop (Alfred Molina from “An Education”), a kind-hearted British officer longing for home and the girlfriend he left behind, picks up Proffy for breaking the curfew law. Rather than arresting him, he takes Proffy home with a stern warning. He knows full well that disciplinary measures will be taken by the boy’s parents.
Proffy decides it might lead to gaining information on the British plans by meeting regularly with Dunlop. An unlikely friendship develops between these two foes. Proffy teaches Dunlop several Hebrew words and even gives him the Book of Samuel that he studied in his fifth-grade class. They have a winning chemistry and spend time discussing a wide range of topics as well as playing chess and snooker pool.
Proffy likes to spy on the British from his rooftop with binoculars. His attention is diverted when he watches Yardena (Anat Klausner), the beautiful young woman across the street, undress in an open bedroom window. Proffy becomes obsessed with various attributes of a woman’s anatomy.
The plot thickens when Proffy’s two pals get suspicious of their friend’s allegiance. They see Proffy go into the British headquarters and saluting Dunlop. Proffy is accused of betraying the Jewish people with traitorous acts. He is brought to “trial” before his Holocaust-surviving parents and a contingent of neighbors. The interrogator is played by the famous Theodore Bikel.
When the summer ends, Proffy returns to school. His sixth-grade class welcomes Rachel (Dafna Melzer), a new student from Cyprus. Proffy’s parents have to go to Tel Aviv for a Holocaust memorial service and Proffy has the good fortune of having Yardena serve as his baby sitter.
A concluding segment hits a high point by featuring the UN resolution of Nov. 29, 1947, broadcast live over the radio. The movie then fast forwards 30 years with an ending that will surely bring tears to your eyes.
Besides a wonderful story and great acting, the movie is a visual treat with the breathtaking panoramic views of Jerusalem. Other strengths include the Middle Eastern musical score and the costume designs.
This movie has played at more than 30 Jewish film festivals around the world. It provides a historical background to make it educational and informative. The dialogue is partially in Hebrew with English subtitles. It is not rated, but suitable for the whole family with a perfectly-paced running time of 89 minutes. It gets my vote as the best film of the 2011 festival and a rating of very good (3 1/2 stars out of 4).