Israeli filmmaker Klil Kovesh writes and directs this tense and gripping film that stars Swell Ariel Or and Yoel Rozenkier that sees Or star as Gali, the only woman on a team of civilians who work on removing long-dormant mines. The hard, dangerous work is only complicated by her being the only woman on the crew, as Gali does all she can to fit in with the group of men and be accepted as one of their own despite the pretty repugnant behaviors that rear their heads every so often. From flatulence and openly urinating to unwanted touching and pretty crass acts, Gali still attempts to fit in as her time with this group runs out and she plans to move on to the next.
You can see the discomfort in so many moments, with Gali being seen having to do so much more to make her presence known, safe and accepted as they all live in an around the same space while completing the job.
Or is really excellent in this film as the focus, her additional difficulties on duty, as her emotional control and effort in the face of a bunch of extra hurdles is on full display in this film, showing many of the things women of all cultures go through in patriarchal societies where jobs such as this aren’t really seen as jobs for women, and when women are present, they’re usually treated much differently.
Writer and director Klil Kovesh manages to build tension in the film without there being any imminent danger, using the threat of calamity as a fantastic fulcrum to build up pressure in the mind of the viewer. Even as there is a clear and present danger in not only the history of where they are, but what was left behind, telling this kind of story in this environment is a fantastic way to dig deeper into the treatment of women in traditionally male spaces.
Doing this job seems like one of the most stressful that can be imagined, seemingly calm but with the threat of violent death in each step. It’s a juxtaposition that works really well, and is well told by Kovesh and the cast.
It’s a film that builds a lot of tension without entirely releasing it, which seems like another layer of messaging at the heart of the film. The only real resolution being that it all keeps going, in the space beyond where the film ends, with Gali on their way to do this exact same thing in another part of the country as soon as she finishes here.
Excellent work from everyone involved, and it’s obvious when watching why this film has gotten a lot of attention and been pushed with a For Your Consideration campaign. Anyone who has the opportunity to see the film definitely should, as it’ll be well worth its just over twenty minute runtime.
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