Bethlehem

Play trailer

Bethlehem

Released Mar 7, 2014

1h 39m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

47 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

A complex relationship develops between an Israeli secret service officer (Tsahi Halevi) and his teenage Palestinian informant (Shadi Mar'i).

Critics Consensus

Balancing complex Middle Eastern politics against a universal human drama, director Yuval Adler fashions Bethlehem into a thought-provoking, well-acted character study.

Read Critics Reviews

David Stratton

The Australian

In the light of what has been happening in nearby Gaza, this small but memorable film assumes an even greater impact.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 11, 2014

Full Review

Philippa Hawker

The Age (Australia)

Its most compelling element, however, is the relationship between informer and informant.

Rated: 3.5/5

Aug 7, 2014

Full Review

Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

Bethlehem's plot is nothing new; it's the oft-told Cain and Abel story updated for the age of suicide bombers and tactical strikes, as a tautly structured mix of melodrama and ticking-clock thriller.

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 4, 2014

Full Review

Michael J. Casey

Boulder Weekly

Every character in Bethlehem has their reasons, and that is what makes the Israel-Palestine conflict so tragic and confounding

Jun 30, 2019

Full Review

Jay Kuehner

Cinema Scope

Bethlehem is compelling for its regional exposure, but a tendency for narrative velocity and plot machinations gives away the film's ultimate agenda as genre-dependent. Credit to Adler though for the necessarily unhappy ending.

Oct 10, 2017

Full Review

Tom Clift

Concrete Playground

The moral murkiness of the Israel-Palestine conflict sets the scene for a blistering espionage thriller.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 19, 2014

Full Review

Read all reviews

Social W

After watching this movie, I'll stay far away from the Middle East. What a sad, violent place.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/26/23

Full Review

william s

Grabs you from the start and keeps you riveted till the bitter end and boy is it bitter.....well done character study of hopelessness.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Very well performed by the actors and nicely directed.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

no opening credits or nothin this 1 just grabs ya an goes shows the complex relationships between the jews and the arabs & doesn't pull any punches or take sides

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A rather depressing movie of how impossible it is for anyone in Israel/Palestine to escape the violence -- even if you want to work with the other side.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

in the perverse world of violence between the Israelis and the Palestinians, people are forced to take sides, even if its the one against their conscience and will. As one reviewer puts it nicely, it is the story of Cain & Abel in the age of suicide bombers.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Yuval Adler

Director

Shadi Mar'i

Sanfur

Tsahi Halevi

Razi

Haitham Alomari

Badawi

Tarik Kopty

Abu Ibrahim

Michal Shtamler

Einat

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Omar

90%

84%

Omar

Watchlist

A Most Wanted Man

85%

65%

A Most Wanted Man

Watchlist

Flying Blind

50%

43%

Flying Blind

Watchlist

Altered Minds

56%

57%

Altered Minds

Watchlist

Shadow Dancer

85%

52%

Shadow Dancer

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

New on DVD & Blu-Ray: Rio 2, Under the Skin, and Orphan Black

Critics Consensus: Mr. Peabody & Sherman is a Blast From the Past

View more photos

Synopsis

A complex relationship develops between an Israeli secret service officer (Tsahi Halevi) and his teenage Palestinian informant (Shadi Mar'i).

Director: Yuval Adler
Producer: Sébastien Delloye, Diana Elbaum, Sonja Ewers, Osnat Handelsman-Keren
Screenwriter: Yuval Adler, Ali Wakad
Distributor: Adopt Films
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Hebrew
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 7, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 6, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $201.7K
Runtime: 1h 39m

Most Popular at Home Now