The Vanishing Soldier

Shlomi, an 18-year-old Israeli soldier fighting in Gaza, is trying to see through the fog of war. In a split second—in what might not even be called a decision—he finds himself running from the battlefield towards Tel Aviv to his girlfriend Shiri, a sous chef whom he finds very enticing. This dynamic thriller with a percussive score rarely slows down. Shlomi is driven by his desire to see Shiri. He has also, unintentionally, become a man on the lam. The film takes a noirish turn when Shlomi discovers through the incessant drumbeat of the media that the Israeli army believes he was kidnapped in Gaza. His mother tells him he has to go back to the front, but Shlomi is dead set on pursuing Shiri. Director Dani Rosenberg’s film, winner of the Haifa International Film Festival’s Best Israeli Feature award, is a compelling commentary on the absurdities of combat, the collusion of family and government necessary to support a complex war, and the solace offered by love. —Nancy Fishman

Bay Area Premiere

Dani Rosenberg graduated with honors from Sam Spiegel Film School in Jerusalem, his first film, The Death of Cinema and my Father Too was Official Selection of the 2020 Cannes Film Festival and wonthe Jerusalem Film Festival. His award winning short films have been screened in the best international film festivals, including Cannes Cinéfondation Competition, Berlinale, Clermont Ferrand, HotDocs and IDFA. He’s also created acclaim ed television series (Milk & Honey was adapted by Germany and France), co created a documentary (Zohar, The Return), and most recently adapted God of Vengeance for Israel’s leading theater The Cameri. The Vanishing Soldier is his second feature film.