147. Shoshana; movie review

 

SHOSHANA

Cert 15

121 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong injury detail, violence

We see the horrors of Palestine on the TV news every night and wonder, "Where did it all begin to unravel?"

No big surprise that, as Michael Winterbottom's film emphasises, the British played a dark part.

His movie is set in the 1930s and 40s when Jewish people were fighting for the creation of their own state of Israel.

It stars Irina Starshenbaum as Shoshana Borochov, a moderate campaigner who falls for a senior British police officer, Thomas Wilkin (Douglas Booth).

Both are the rare voices of reason in a power-keg situation in which, unlike today, the Israelis are the rebels.

Meanwhile, there are violent actions led by Jewish activists who believe that any collaborators with the British governors are traitors.

Shoshana's pursuit of love places her in grave danger, while Wilkin becomes a target for those seeking to rid themselves of foreign rule. 

Another in the crosshairs of the freedom fighters/terrorists is a hardline police superintendent, played by Henry Melling.

He has neither empathy for the Jews nor the Arabs and is prepared to apply mental and physical torture to both sides to keep them in line.

The hardline inevitably backfires on all the key players and the Second World War adds another line of complexity.

This true story is a very unusual angle to the Palestinian conflict, highlighting the Jewish martyrs to the cause of having an established homeland.

Meanwhile, the film demonstrates how Britain's colonial aspirations have done much harm worldwide and, ultimately, at home.

The problem is that Shoshana's characters lack the depth the real life people would certainly have had.

It was worth enlightening ourselves, nevertheless.

Reasons to watch: Fascinating true story

Reasons to avoid: Acting is a bit stilted

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 6.5/10

Did you know? In 1,000 BC, King David established Jewish control over Jerusalem. The city fell in and out of other hands during the next 2,000 years, particularly during the crusades, when Christian crusaders fought competing Christian and Muslim factions for control of the city. Between 1517 and 1917, the Ottoman Empire—whose official religion was Islam—ruled the city.

The final word. Michael Winterbottom: "To have a political argument and be able to disagree with someone and try and find a way through… that is what the film is about. As opposed to violence."  NME

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