Other Israel Film Festival Spotlight: 77 Steps

The 5th Annual Other Israel Film Festival begins this Thursday night, and Movies With Abe is proud to offer you a spotlight on some of the films being presented. Visit the festival website for a complete schedule of screenings for the films.


77 Steps
Directed by Ibtisam Mara’ana
Screening November 12 at 7:00pm, November 13 at 3:00pm and November 14 at 8:45pm

This documentary is directed by its star, Ibtisam Mara’ana, a Palestinian woman dating an Israeli man named Yoni. It follows their relationship and paints a picture of their dynamic, a Palestinian Arab running for office, as she describes herself, determined to fight for the rights of all in Israel, and a Canadian Jew who moved to Israel six years earlier. Normal interactions and events such as voting or celebrating holidays are divisive, stressful experiences, and Ibtisam often finds herself stifled by Yoni, who attempts to calm her down when she gets riled up about her beliefs. Yoni’s visiting grandfather takes to Ibtisam, but others aren’t as friendly or open-minded. Like other films about Arab-Israeli relationships, like Tribeca entry “Love During Wartime,” it represents a constant struggle to stay civil if actual peace is not possible. This is an intriguing glimpse into a complicated situation, but it doesn’t reach any productive or eye-opening conclusion.