The Biblical parallels of the Beta Israel trek are so obvious, they nearly pass unmentioned in the film, save for its title. Yet, many of the survivors and witnesses refer to the largely spontaneous migration as a calling. Of course, life is not perfect for the Falasha in Israel. Many Orthodox extremists continue to question the legitimacy of their Judaism. Yet, the three Falasha survivors returning to their roots are all adamantly naturalized Israelis. One even serves as a Colonel in the Israeli Air Force.
Mengistu might be gone, but it is still a dangerous journey, requiring armed retainers. It was probably also reassuring to have two ex-Mossad agents for company. Unfortunately, the film never really spends any time getting to know them or understanding their motives for joining this exhausting trip (though we can safely deduce a rather edifying sense of solidarity played a role).
While revisiting past homelands is a rather established convention of documentary filmmaking, WIWO works better than most, partly because there is still an element of risk at play (that Elias wisely chooses to downplay), but mainly due to the dramatic nature of the Falasha Israelis’ stories, which are largely unknown to American audiences.
