Critics from Variety and The Hollywood Reporter praised the film's profound analysis of identity but noted its "problematic" and "unbalanced" pacing. It has been described as an "Israeli American Beauty," highlighting what lurks beneath the surface of a seemingly perfect nuclear family.
: The idealistic teenage daughter and left-wing activist who begins a complicated relationship with a young Palestinian man.
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The story follows David Greenbaum, a Lieutenant Colonel who returns to civilian life after 27 years in the military. As he struggles to adapt to an "ultra-competitive" Israel obsessed with money and success, his family members drift into their own isolated worlds: Beyond The Mountains And Hills 2016 Ok.ru
Kolirin, who directed the 2007 hit The Band's Visit , presents a world where good people are caught in a bad reality. The drama is found in the everyday—a school classroom, a suburban home, a sales job—rather than grand dramatic gestures. Critical Reception and Artistic Style
, a high school literature teacher, is bored by her monotonous routine and embarks on a reckless, erotic affair with one of her students, Evyatar (Yoav Rotman).
(Mili Eshet), their teenage daughter, is a passionate leftist activist who befriends a young Palestinian man, drawing her into a dangerous web of political and personal vulnerability. Critics from Variety and The Hollywood Reporter praised
Director Eran Kolirin utilizes the domestic struggles of the Greenbaum family to establish a microcosm of broad national anxieties. The movie avoids overt political lecturing. Instead, it opts for an undercooled, slow-burning tone of existential dread. The Illusion of Safety
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Unpacking " Beyond the Mountains and Hills " (2016) Released in 2016, (Hebrew: Me’Ever Laharim Vehagvaot ) is a compelling Israeli drama that peels back the layers of a seemingly ordinary middle-class family to reveal a web of secrets, guilt, and societal tension. Directed by Eran Kolirin , known for the award-winning The Band's Visit , this film offers a non-judgmental yet piercing look at modern Israel through the lens of the Greenbaum family. The Core Premise: A Family in Transition : While Ok
Beyond the Mountains and Hills (2016) stands as a significant and thought-provoking entry in contemporary Israeli cinema. Directed by Eran Kolirin, the film uses the intimate story of one family's disintegration to explore the broader moral and existential struggles of a nation. While its reception was mixed, its selection at Cannes, award nominations, and powerful performances make it a must-watch for fans of international and political dramas. For those seeking to watch it, platforms like remain a key avenue for discovery, especially for Russian-speaking audiences, where it is often found under its Russian title, "За горами и холмами."
. The film premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival Plot Summary
Unlike the hopeful symbolism of his early work, Kolirin aims here to provoke discomfort. "The tone of Beyond the Mountains and Hills is more serious," he explained. "This film is about living in the shadow of guilt". He strips away the cinematic fourth wall, forcing the audience to look at the settlers on the hill not as monsters, but as confused, often well-meaning people who commit terrible acts. His quasi-deadpan style—featuring long, awkward pauses and jarring cuts that omit expected emotional beats—is designed to challenge the viewer's neutrality, which he sees as a "dangerous evasion".
: The story follows David, a recently discharged army officer who struggles to adapt to civilian life after 27 years of service. As he attempts to find his footing, his family members—his wife, daughter, and son—each grapple with their own secrets and moral dilemmas, reflecting broader social and political tensions in Israel. : Drama / Family. : Premiered at the Un Certain Regard section of the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. How to Find it Social Platforms : You can search for the Russian title "За горами и холмами"