TIME OF FAVOR aka HESDER, HA

Year: 2000
USA: Kino International
UK: Blue Dolphin Film & Video
Cast: Aki Avni, Tinkerbell, Assi Dayan, Idan Alterman, Micha Selektar, Amnon Volf, Shimon Mimran, Uri Ran-Klausner, Samuel Calderon
Director: Joseph Cedar
Country: Israel
Language: Hebrew/Yiddish (English subtitles)
USA: 98 min
UK: 102 mins
UK Certificate: 12 contains moderate violence
USA Release Date: 1 February 2002 (Limited Release - Los Angeles)
USA Release Date: 18 January 2002 (Limited Release - New York)
UK Release Date: 2 August 2002

Synopsis

Menachem (Aki Avni) studies in a yeshiva on the West Bank led by the revered Rabbi Meltzer (Assi Dayan). He is a dedicated and highly respected army officer in a unit composed entirely of Orthodox members from the yeshiva. Rabbi Meltzer, complex, profound and in harmony with his faith, is unfortunately looked upon warily by the military officers as a fanatic that could lead the company to dangerous ground.

Rabbi Meltzer wants Pini (Idan Alterman), the prized pupil in his class and Menachem's best friend, to marry his daughter Michal (Tinkerbell). But as Pini courts Michal, Menachem, strong-willed and passionate, falls in love with her.

Leaving Pini feeling betrayed by both, he takes his revenge on Menachem by implicating him in a terrorist plot. While battling to prove his innocence, Menachem is forced to weigh his alliances, his conscience, and everything he has ever believed in.