Ha-mashgichim

When the group that has gathered around Avi and his friends Kobi and Yaniv verbally harasses the secular Miri, insisting that she wear more “modest clothes”, Avi starts to falter. He has taken a liking toward this independent, no-nonsense girl, and he senses that his usual modus operandi of enforcing his own notions of the faith might not, after all, be the solution to the world's troubles.

Meni Yaesh’s wonderful feature film debut HA-MASHGICHIM, produced by Marek Rozenbaum, a member of this year’s FilmFestival Cottbus International Festival Jury, is a cautionary tale of bigotry and violence, as well as an unbiased portrayal of a group of high-strung young men who swing back and forth between the comfort of patriarchal entitlement and a subjective interpretation of worship. Part thriller, part social-drama, the film stands out with a keen analysis of what a clear conscience entails and willingness to tackle its controversial subject matter. EY