Victory (Musical Drama | Israel and Ukraine, 2023 | 119 min.)
Director: Eliran Peled
In Hebrew with subtitles
Great music, saturated color, spark and seriousness: this film has it all!
Eliran Peled’s captivating Israeli musical is set during the euphoria following the Six-Day War and tackles serious issues of war’s lasting impacts. The story engages from the get-go.
In the glow of Israel’s 1967 victory, “A Star is Born” meets the Israeli reality in this captivating musical. It follows two couples from Kibbutz Netzer Sirani, whose lives take dramatic turns post-war. At the heart is Neta Agmon, whose acting career takes off just as her husband comes back from the war, forever changed. While Neta’s star rises, she faces a personal battle at home, trying to reconnect with the man she once knew, while he suffers in silence, his untreated war trauma straining their relationship. Amidst a nation celebrating, they navigate the unseen aftermath of war and the challenge of keeping love alive. This story blends personal struggle with the vibrancy of a musical, offering a fresh and engaging take on the impact of war, the price of fame, and the power of love.
Boasting award-winning melodies, beautifully sung and staged with top-notch art direction and choreography, Peled’s distinctive song-and-dance production with a potent anti-war message delivers an unexpected emotional punch.
Allison Kaplan Sommer in the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz offered this commentary on the genesis and impact of this film: “A chance comment from an Israeli veteran with PTSD set writer-director Eliran Peled off on a seven-year odyssey. The end result is his 1967-set 'Victory,' a colorful yet surprisingly complex musical that is all too relevant to today's Israel."
This is a film that you will both enjoy and absorb deeply, its messages and questions lingering. My best comparison is to one of my favorite musical genres: downbeat country tunes set to upbeat music. It’s a winning combination for lasting impact that touches the heart.