English summary

“Brilliantly constructed story”

“Ode to fate”

This film about a young Israeli conscript (Jonathan) and his parents is told with a real sense of irony and features striking camera work. Michael and Dafna are devastated when they learn that their son Jonathan has died while on guard duty at a godforsaken border crossing. But is it actually true? In three very different parts, director Samuel Maoz tells the story from the point of view of father, son and mother.

The drama of both parents is only half of this story. Foxtrot jumps back in time to focus on Jonathan, who is guarding a desolate checkpoint with three other soldiers. What has happened there? Both the soldier and his parents dance the foxtrot with fate. A dance that has many variations. But no matter where you go, you always end up at the same starting point.

A couple of years ago, filmmaker Samuel Maoz thought that his daughter had died in an attack on a bus. For an hour he heard nothing from her. “That was the worst hour of my life,” he told the LA Times. His daughter turned out to be unhurt and Maoz decided to make a film about the feelings stirred up that day. Foxtrot won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival and was voted best Israeli film of the year. Eight years ago Maoz blew audiences away with his debut, “Lebanon“, which was set entirely in and around an Israeli tank. He surpasses himself here, with an even more profound message to share