section Feature Film Competition

Concerned Citizen

  • Idan Haguel
  • IL
  • 2022
  • 82

Liberal self-delusion. A city planner is the catalyst for and, subsequently, witness to a racially-motivated attack by the Israeli police on two African immigrants. Nevertheless, he tries to get on with life together with his boyfriend and, with the help of a surrogate mother, fulfil the couple’s aspirations of fatherhood. Slowly, however, he starts to have doubts both about himself and his plans for life in this powerful reflection on uncomfortable truths and left-liberal appearances and reality.

Ben and Raz, a modern gay couple, live in a swanky condominium in the Neve Sha'anan district of southern Tel-Aviv, an area that is home to a significant African immigrant population. It all starts with Ben planting a tree seedling opposite his apartment building. He subsequently observes two young Africans leaning against his little tree, which would appear about to snap. On observing that his request not to lean on the tree has swiftly been ignored, Ben calls the police. They proceed to give one of the two men such a beating that he afterwards remains motionless on the ground. Ben sees everything and yet, at first, does nothing before increasingly finding himself plagued by guilt. With this multi-layered parable, director Idan Haguel has produced a cinematically powerful reflection on complicity and responsibility, moral courage and liberal delusions.


18.6. 18.00 Delphi Lux, followed by a discussion with Idan Haguel, director
18.6. 21.00 Passagekino, followed by a discussion with Idan Haguel, director
19.6. 21.30 Sommerkino Kulturforum, followed by a discussion with Idan Haguel, director


Credits

original title Concerned Citizen

international title Concerned Citizen

german title Concerned Citizen

JFBB section Feature Film Competition

  • director Idan Haguel

country/countries IL

year 2022

duration 82


Idan Haguel

BIO Born in 1980 in Holon, Israel. He graduated from Sapir College with a degree in film. His feature film debut, "Inertia", premiered in the Berlinale Forum. In 2017 he took part in the Berlinale Talents. In addition to his work as a director, he works as a journalist and screenwriter for Israeli television.