With explosions and smoke around, soldiers running, shouting and obeying orders, one soldier, under the cover of darkness, follows his soul – it operates his legs, leading them cautiously to a place where he won't be seen, only to break into a run. A run for his life. This is Shlomi, a soldier whose soul leads him home – far from the battlefield. Very quickly, he learns that everyone is mistaken in thinking he was kidnapped during the battle, and from there, his escape only intensifies. Shlomi truly cannot stop moving and no one can protect him – not his mom, not civilians, not the army, nor the state. And nowhere is there a respite from the war, not even in Tel Aviv. As he continues to flee for his life, his life force strengthens like a human alternator – he wants to love completely, devour entirely, breathe all the air, to scream his lungs out. He is only 18 years old.
Director Danny Rosenberg demonstrates complete control of the cinematic medium, captivating and poetic at the same time. THE VANISHING SOLDIER, produced and screened at the Locarno Film Festival long before the current war in Gaza, presents an existential picture of youth in Israel. In this country, even if you run from the war, eventually, it will catch up with you.
Text: Naomi Levari