Debt [Import]

"The Debt" (original 2007 release from Israel; 100 min.) brings the story of 3 Mossad agents in the mid-60s hunting down (fictitious) Nazi criminal Dieter Vogel a/k/a the "Surgeon of Birkenau" who is now living in Berlin and working as a doctor in private practice. In fact they manage to abduct and capture Vogel. However before they are able to transport/smuggle Vogel out of Berlin into Israel, Vogel manages to escape. The 3 Mossag agents now are faced with a terrible embarrasment for both themselves and Israel. They decide to cover up what has happened, simply saying that Vogel was killed in a struggle. The agents then return to Israel in triumph. That is where the movie really takes off, examining the legacy/debt of living with such a lie. Then one day 30 years later, there is a rumor that a man claiming to be Surgeon of Birkenau is alive and well in Ukraine. I will not spoil the rest of the plot, you'll just have to see it for yourself.

Maybe you saw the 2011 Hollywood remake starring Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington and Jessica Chastain, maybe not. I saw the Hollywood remake last year, and when I compare the two, the original movie shines and is simply better. Why you may ask? Several reasons: one, there is a huge plot point that is radically different in the two movies, which I simply cannot understand why Hollywood felt compelled to change. Two, the Hollywood remake focues way too much on the love triangle (or not) between the female and the 2 male Mossad agents, which is absent in the original movie. As a result of the latter, the original movie is riveting and tense from start to finish, whereas the Hollywood movie has to have the occasional romantic interlude. I'm not saying that the Hollywood remake is bad per so, it is not. But compared to the original Israeli movie, it simply is not as good.

I am happy to see that the original Israeli is finally getting a proper DVD release in the US. I just saw it recently at the 2012 Jewish & Israeli Film Festival here in Cincinnati. In all, the original "The Debt" is highly recommended!

With a high profile American remake hitting theaters (starring Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington, Tom Wilkinson, and Jessica Chastain among others), I hope that the riveting 2007 Israeli picture that is its source material will get much more attention. This complicated adult thriller works on a myriad of levels and absolutely knocked me out when I first saw it. A complex narrative featuring alternate timelines highlights a tale of responsibility and recriminations across decades and international borders. Serious political thrillers can oftentimes be antiseptic or too aloof, but this hard-edged story covers a lot of ground while still remaining an intensely personal experience. At its heart, it is about individuals with a strong sense of duty battling with the morality and ethics of the position that they are put into. Emotionally and intellectually challenging, this is a film of unrelenting tension that had me enthralled throughout its running time.

Starting in 2007, the film opens with an ex-Mossad agent played by Gila Almagor stepping up to receive accolades upon the publishing of her account of an infamous case thirty-five years in the past. As a young agent, she was part of a team that took down an infamous war criminal. All, however, might not be what it seems when it comes to this momentous event. Through a series of tensely escalating flashbacks, we are clued in to what really happened in 1964--and it does not match the official accounting. Still struggling with the truth, Almagor is given a very real chance to face the repercussions of her decisions as a youth. She decides to put herself on the line again out of a combined sense of duty and guilt, and the picture continues to play out as a timely and relevant morality play.

I appreciated "The Debt," and its intricate screenplay, in that it integrates the two timelines seamlessly. Both are completely interesting, entertaining, and exciting in their own right--but together, they make something so much more powerful and thoughtful. Almagor is terrific, and Nety Garty as her younger counterpoint gives a star making performance. A serious and easy recommendation for adult audiences, I wished this had been more widely seen before its more visible remake hit the theaters. But even if you've seen the second picture, I'd recommend giving the original a try as well. It is bold and satisfying Israeli filmmaking and the narrative strikes much closer to home for that fact. Exceedingly well acted and intelligent, the film is an emotional roller coaster that's not afraid to examine moral complexities and difficult decisions in the political arena without ever seeming pedantic or preachy. I truly loved it. KGHarris, 9/11.

A friend recommended the U.S version (with Helen Mirren, 2011), but I love foreign films and liked the idea that this was the original version. Even though there were only 2 reviews, both highly recommended the film. I saw this via Amazon Instant Video. It does keep you on the edge till the very end. I haven't seen the later version so can't provide a comparison, but the acting here in the Israeli version was excellent and the story told very well. The one "spy" or female agent showed warmth and a very human side, unlike what you might expect. I'd highly recommend it.