Golda, Co-Starring Liev Schreiber as Kissinger

In many ways, the Yom Kippur War was a lot like the Tet Offensive. It was a surprise attack over a holiday that caught Israel by surprise. The media spun Tet into a Communist victory, even though the South and their American allies successfully beat back the Viet Cong. It is impossible to spin the Yom Kippur War as a victory for Egypt and Syria for several reasons, starting with the obvious fact Israel still exists. However, it was looking really grim during the initial days. Guy Nattiv takes viewers into the celebrated Israeli Prime Minister’s war-room in Golda, which releases Friday in theaters.

Some Israelis blamed Golda Meir for not being better prepared for the 1973 war, but clearly Nattiv and screenwriter Nicholas Martin do not. There were early warning signs, but they were interpreted very differently by legendary Defense Minister Moshe Dayan and Mossad chief Zvi Zamir. Unfortunately, Zamir was more right than wrong. Being a natural politician, Meir basically split the difference between their recommendations. It also certainly did not help that Meir had promised Kissinger and Nixon to wait for her war-mongering neighbors to fire the first shot, before Israel would start to defend itself.

However, having stayed true to her word, Kissinger agrees to expedite more military aid and diplomatically pressure the Soviets to stay out of the fight. It is important to remember Israel and the U.S, did not enjoy as close a relationship then as we do now. In fact, Nattiv and Martin nicely illustrate the legacy of the Yom Kippur War, including the Camp David Accords and a much closer alliance between our two countries.

Frankly, it is kind of shocking Liev Schreiber agreed to play Kissinger, especially since the film portrays the former Secretary of State in at least a halfway sympathetic manner, if not better. Apparently, it is tough to turn down an opportunity to appear opposite Dame Helen Mirren. For viewers, it was worth Schreiber risking his career, because their terrific scenes together crackle with wit and intelligence.

Mirren is also pretty good is her scenes with everyone else, particularly Lior Ashkenazi as IDF Chief of Staff David Alazar, Rami Heuberger as Dayan, and Rotem Keinan as Zamir. Less successful are the private moments she shares with confidential secretary Lou Kaddar (played by Camille Cottin) exploring all her aches and physical failings. We can all empathize, but a little of this goes a long way—and there a lot of it. Nevertheless, what starts as a good feature-showcase for Mirren evolves into an effective ensemble film.

NYJFF ’23: Jews of the Old West

What name could be more synonymous with the Western Frontier experience than that of Levi Strauss? So, Jews definitely played an important role in the Old West. Case closed—but wait, there’s even more. Amanda Kinsey documents American Jewish life on the Frontier in Jews of the Old West, which screens tomorrow during the 2023 New York Jewish Film Festival.

It makes sense that people who would travel across an ocean in lousy steerage conditions to reach America would keep going west in search of a better life. Obviously, many immigrants settled in Northeastern communities like the Lower Eastside, but a fair number also settled out west, particularly in San Francisco, Denver, and Texas. Of course, maintaining traditions and religious observances was a challenge on the Frontier, but anti-Semitism was much less prevalent (because most hardscrabble settlers just didn’t have the time).

Many Jews of the Old West became quite notable, like Wyatt Earp’s wife, who eventually buried the famous lawman in a Jewish cemetery (even though he never adopted her faith, at least as far as we know). Some Jewish immigrants started enduring businesses, like Straus and the founders of Samsonite luggage. Plus, Denver in the early 1900s was home to a true icon, Golda Meir, during her precocious childhood years. In fact, Jewish Coloradans were instrumental in establishing the Denver stockyards, which remain to this day a major livestock hub.

The Prime Ministers—the Pioneers: Israel’s Legacy of Leadership

It is not sufficient to merely declare yourself a would-be state.  Any governing authority must establish the rule of law.  This was never a problem for the State of Israel (its neighbors are a different story).  It started at the top, with Prime Ministers who guided the fledgling nation through periods of profound crisis.  Ambassador Yehuda Avner witnessed this tumultuous history first hand as a trusted aide to Prime Ministers Levi Eshkol, Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin, Menachem Begin, and Shimon Peres.  Drawing upon Avner’s insider history, Richard Trank chronicles the Eshkol and Meir years in The Prime Ministers: The Pioneers (trailer here), which opens this Friday in New York.

Given the wit and verve Avner shows during his interview segments, viewers might assume he was in grade school when he served as Eshkol’s speech writer and English correspondent.  However, he was there, in the field, when the State of Israel was first declared. Becoming a young but trusted member of Eshkol’s inner circle, Avner was on-hand for the planning sessions during the Six Days War.  Begin was also present, forcefully advocating Israel take advantage of the crisis to liberate the Old City of Jerusalem.  Although cautious, Eshkol recognized the historic opportunity presenting itself and acted decisively.

Where the Six Days War was an unqualified triumph for the Israeli military, the Yom Kippur War initially threatened the very existence of Israel.  Yet, Golda Meir rallied the country. In desperate need of military aid, she turned to the Watergate-embroiled Richard Nixon, who authorized a massive emergency airlift. The Western European parties in Socialist International were not so responsive, refusing to allow the American transports to refuel en-route to their embattled fellow member state.  Fortunately, Israel survived, allowing Meir to publicly shame her socialist colleagues.

As the first of a two part documentary series (co-produced by Trank and Rabbi Marvin Heir), Pioneers focuses on Eshkol and Meir, but Begin and Rabin appear in brief but significant supporting roles.  Considering Gravity’s continuing box-office dominance, a new Sandra Bullock movie ought to be major news, but her voice-over work as Meir is probably not likely to get the attention it deserves.  Regardless, she well captures the Prime Minister’s humanity and resoluteness. 

Likewise, it is great to at least hear Leonard Nimoy again, vividly bringing Eshkol’s words to life.  Christoph Waltz, who narrated the writings of Theodor Herzl in Trank’s valuable It is No Dream, also nicely gives voice to Begin.  Frankly, Pioneers is quite a big name production, with Michael Douglas rounding out the voice cast as Rabin and Emmy winning composer Lee Holdridge penning and conducting the score.

As a subsidiary of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Moriah Films is a film production company parents and teachers can trust to portray history accurately.  Like their previous productions, Pioneers is authoritative yet acutely aware of the human element underlying great geo-political events. One hopes Pioneers and Trank’s promised follow-up will eventually be widely available for high school and college viewing, because it provides the sort of comprehensive history of Israel students deserve, but are not getting from today’s media or academia. Yet, thanks to Trank’s brisk pacing and Avner’s engaging personality, Pioneers is never a dry or distancing viewing experience. Highly recommended for anyone fascinated by the great leaders of the Twentieth Century, The Prime Ministers: the Pioneers opens this Friday (10/18) in New York at the Quad Cinema.