Israeli writer-director Samuel Maoz is diabolically clever in using the metaphor of an old-fashioned dance - the kind they used to teach in school before rock-n-roll - in his latest fiction feature "Foxtrot."
Opening Friday at Landmark's Embarcadero Cinemas, "Foxtrot" unspools in a tricky three-act structure where the filmmakers deliberately mislead us. Act I begins with a father getting the devastating news that Jonathan, his young soldier son, has "fallen" (been killed) while serving the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in a remote border outpost. Your enjoyment of "Foxtrot" depends on the wild plot swings that follow this seemingly simple dramatic beat. "Foxtrot" joins a long run of Israeli-set dramas that demonstrate how little really changes in this cradle of civilization.
The acting is uniformly excellent, starting with veteran Lior Ashkenazi as the grieving father Michael Feldmann. Early in the film, Feldmann goes through all the classic stages of grieving, with an emphasis on anger. This is a case where spoilers should be avoided, although once you've seen "Foxtrot," not spoiling the film for somebody else is even harder than learning the dance steps involved.
Director Maoz, last represented on screens by his 2009 Israeli tank drama "Lebanon," has admitted that the inspiration for "Foxtrot" came two decades ago when he refused his young daughter's request for taxi fare when she was running late for school. Instructing her to take a city bus, he suffered a horrible waiting period when reports came back that the bus line she was on had been bombed by terrorists.
"Foxtrot" benefits from a talented supporting cast: Sarah Adler as Daphna Feldmann, Yonaton Shiray as Jonathan, Shira Haas as daughter Alma, and Yehuda Almagor as Michael's brother Avigdor. There's also a humorous interlude where a camel passes through the desert at the checkpoint manned by Jonathan and his three unit-mates.
The film is a nifty illustration of the fact that the deadliest factor in military stalemate is boredom. Homo-hook: gay male viewers will revel in the sublime beauty of Jonathan and his mates. Rated R for some sexual content, graphic images, and brief drug use.