Eric A. Goldman
‘A hero for 2012’ who died in 1976
Producers on why Entebbe film focuses on Yoni Netanyahu
On June 27, 1976, Air France Flight 139 was hijacked in a joint operation by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the German Revolutionary Cells. After a stopover at Benghazi Airport in Libya, the French Airbus was flown to Entebbe Airport in Uganda. Almost immediately, the Israeli government began planning a rescue mission in case negotiations failed. There were 248 passengers and 12 crew members being held hostage. At Entebbe, the hijackers separated Jews from non-Jews, freeing the latter (although several passengers chose to stay with the Jews, as did the Air France flight crew). On July 4, 1976, there were 105 hostages remaining as the hijackers prepared to begin executing one hostage every half-hour until their demands were met.
It was at about that moment that Israeli commandoes — having flown 2,500 miles under enemy radar and through powerful storms — broke into the building where the hostages were being held and rescued all but three of them. The elite commando unit that led the rescue, Sayeret Matkal, was under the command of Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu. He was the sole IDF casualty that day.
What does Oscar know?
‘Footnote’ is a film to watch over and again
Footnote defined: a piece of information, sometimes an anecdote, that is not necessarily verifiable, sometimes even outrageous, or silly, often only remotely relevant to the main text, but at the same time it is just too irresistible and juicy to leave out entirely; a Talmud researcher to filmmaker Joseph Cedar.
Just like a page of Talmud, Joseph Cedar’s new Israeli film “Footnote” is layered with various references and underlying footnotes. If you understand them, then it is just that much more fun and challenging, and a reason to watch the film a second or third time to delve even deeper. If you do not notice these visual and aural references, it matters not, because you will still find this a powerful film and quite the masterpiece. About how many films today can one say that? Joseph Cedar has hit a home run on this, his fourth feature film, even though he failed a second time to take home an Oscar.
Exclusive pre-Oscar interviews
Joseph Cedar: Searching for a non-existent harmonious middle
Award-winning writer/director Joseph Cedar discusses His Oscar-nominated “Footnote” with The Jewish Standard’s film critic, Eric Goldman. The film is nominated for “Best Foreign Language Film” at Sunday’s Academy Awards. It won the Ophir Award in Israel for “Best Picture” and “Best Director,” and took “Best Screenplay” at the Cannes Film Festival.
“Footnote” tells the tale of a great rivalry between a father and son. Eliezer and Uriel Shkolnik are eccentric professors who dedicated their lives to their work in talmudic studies. The father, Eliezer, is a stubborn purist who fears the establishment and has never been recognized for his work. His son, Uriel, is an up-and-coming star in the field, who appears to feed on accolades, endlessly seeking recognition.
Exclusive pre-Oscar interviews
Joseph Cedar: Searching for a non-existent harmonious middle
Award-winning writer/director Joseph Cedar discusses His Oscar-nominated “Footnote” with The Jewish Standard’s film critic, Eric Goldman. The film is nominated for “Best Foreign Language Film” at Sunday’s Academy Awards. It won the Ophir Award in Israel for “Best Picture” and “Best Director,” and took “Best Screenplay” at the Cannes Film Festival.
“Footnote” tells the tale of a great rivalry between a father and son. Eliezer and Uriel Shkolnik are eccentric professors who dedicated their lives to their work in talmudic studies. The father, Eliezer, is a stubborn purist who fears the establishment and has never been recognized for his work. His son, Uriel, is an up-and-coming star in the field, who appears to feed on accolades, endlessly seeking recognition.
