Movie Review: 'Footnote'

"Footnote" is an utterly charming film that explores the complex (dare I say biblical) rivalry between a father and son. Living in contemporary Israel, Eliezer and Uriel Shkolnik are two intensely committed professors who have dedicated their lives to Talmudic studies. The older Shkolnik is a rigid purist who has never been recognized by the academic establishment, whom he holds in contempt. At the same time, he desperately craves its stamp of approval. Withdrawn and bitter, the aging professor boasts no social graces. By contrast, his son Uriel, whose scholarship is hot and trendy, has become a star among his peers. He can work a crowd and has won many prizes.

The scenario abruptly shifts when Eliezer learns that he has been tapped for the Israel Prize, the most coveted honor for scholarship in his country. Uriel is thrilled for his father, until a horrible twist of fate forces him to make a momentous decision between his career and his father's and, more central, between truth and compassion. Beyond all the larger themes at play here, "Footnote" offers a fascinating peek into the behind-the-scene workings of the academic world, with its petty and not-so-petty jealousies and machinations.

The film is at once culturally specific and universal, funny and profoundly sad, dramatic and subtle. Nominated for an Oscar as best foreign film, it works on many levels, thanks to Joseph Cedar's nuanced script and unobtrusive direction, plus a top-notch cast.

As Eliezer, Shlomo Bar-Aba evokes the disappointed and angry man who in his own thwarted way loves his son. Lior Ashkenazi brings Uriel to life as a slick careerist for whom professional advancement is in constant battle with larger moral concerns. Micha Lewensohn is memorable as a mean-spirited, brutally honest academic. The smaller roles are also wonderfully delineated. Aliza Rosen, as Eliezer's wife, is every bit the solid, loyal spouse, whose silence resonates with wisdom. Yuval Scharf's young, green journalist is spot-on as she tries to maintain a blank demeanor while her interviewee, the senior Shkolnik, reveals far too much, thus giving her a terrific story.

The conclusion is unresolved, and the ambiguity works. "Footnote" is, after all, about life's gray areas, which are not readily articulated. Indeed, the final section of the movie, as the principals convene for the award ceremony, has little dialogue and almost suggests carefully executed choreography.

Credit must also go to cinematographer Yaron Scharf for capturing those sun-baked, oppressive landscapes that serve as the perfect backdrop for the story. Production designer Arad Sawat also does a fine job in creating interiors that subtly reflect the status of its inhabitants. The senior Shkolnik lives in a home that's just slightly kitschy, while his son's house is tastefully upscale.

Genre: Drama
Director: Joseph Cedar
Writer: Joseph Cedar
Cast: Shlomo Bar-Aba, Lior Ashkenazi, Aliza Rosen, Alma Zak, Micha Lewensohn, Yuval Scharf