It is 1945, and a young Amos Oz is living in Jerusalem with his parents. It is a difficult time for both the nation and for Amos Oz, whose mother (Natalie Portman) has put the weight of all her hopes and dreams upon him. Even as he joins the fight against British occupation, he remains a thoughtful child whose destiny is forged alongside that of Israel.
Premiering in official selection at Cannes 2015, this is the directorial debut from Natalie Portman, who presents a insight into one of Israel’s best-known writers. She also speaks fluent Hebrew in her role as Oz’s mother Fania: a Holocaust survivor struggling with the horrors of the past and the challenges of the present. Based on Oz’s best-selling memoir, it is a coming-of-age story for both Oz and Israel.
