JIFF26 The Sea

A deeply humanistic drama made with a crew of Jews and Arabs working together, The Sea is director Shai Carmeli-Pollak's triumph, winner of Best Film at the Ophir Awards and Israel's official submission to the Academy Awards.  Reminiscent of the child-centric humanism of Vittorio De Sica and Jafar Panahi, The Sea tells the story of Khaled, a 12-year-old Palestinian boy who is taken to see the ocean for the first time on a school trip, but is denied entry at the military checkpoint. Without knowing Hebrew or his way, Khaled embarks on an odyssey through the streets of Tel Aviv in search of the Mediterranean, encountering a kaleidoscopic cross-section of Israeli society and all of its nuances.   This story of compassion – filmed in both Tel Aviv and Palestinian villages along the border wall – centres around a stunning performance from newcomer Mohammad Ghazawi, the youngest ever winner of the Ophir Award for Best Actor.