Director: Idan Haguel
Writer: Idan Haguel
Starring: Shlomi Bertonov / Ariel Wolf / Lena Freifeld
Genre: Drama / LGBTQ+
Country/Region: Israel
Language: Hebrew
Release Date: 2022-02-12 (Berlin Film Festival)
Runtime: 82 minutes
Also Known As: Concerned Citizen
IMDb: tt17076682
Concerned Citizen, written and directed by Idan Haguel, is a meticulously crafted dark comedy that touches on broader issues such as privilege, urban redevelopment, xenophobia, and liberal guilt.
Ben (Shlomi Bertonov) and Raz (Ariel Wolf) are a same-sex couple in their thirties who have purchased an apartment in the impoverished Neve Shaanan community in southern Tel Aviv, on the verge of a renovation and rebuilding period. This allows them to afford the current apartment prices and renovate the interior with elegant minimalism, featuring carefully tended plants that provide a suitable living space for them. The sound of the robotic vacuum cleaner patrolling every morning, the beautiful music, the buzzing of the blender preparing green smoothies, and the lively conversations with friends. However, stepping out of the enclosed building, the community environment is monotonous, with old apartment buildings and dull streets, a forgotten corner of the city. Most residents in the community live below the poverty line, some are foreign workers, some are undocumented immigrants, and some are homeless.
Nevertheless, Ben and Raz feel rooted in this environment and are considering having a child through surrogacy, hoping to raise the child in a diverse cultural atmosphere. Their desire to become part of the community and contribute to it is symbolically expressed at the beginning of the film when Ben digs a hole in front of their building and plants a tree. However, when he sees two African men chatting by the tree and ignoring his parking request, his reaction is excessive, and he calls the police to report them. The situation quickly escalates, and Ben watches from the window as the police chase and brutally beat one of the men.
The film focuses on Ben's inner conflict as he experiences extreme emotions and inner turmoil. He becomes obsessed with the event and its consequences, which affect every aspect of his life, including his relationship with Raz and his feelings about raising a child. The director effectively conveys Ben's pain, anger, and confusion, while Ariel Wolf charmingly portrays the loving partner who is puzzled by Ben's sudden change. In terms of casting, Shlomi Bertonov and Ariel Wolf are a real-life couple, and their on-screen chemistry is marked by warmth and intimacy. To add authenticity, actors playing immigrants and refugees are from Sudan and Eritrea and are members of the Holot Theater.
While the film specifically addresses the cost of living and rising housing prices in Tel Aviv, residents of cities around the world can find similar difficulties in their own urban lives. When a struggling community is gentrified, it often does not mean that the city is providing better services and support to improve living conditions. It often means that wealthier residents are moving into renovated buildings, and new businesses are entering the community to serve them, all at the expense of existing residents. At the same time, the destructive and criminal behavior prevalent in poorer areas of the city cannot be denied.
In this sense, Concerned Citizen exposes sensitive nerves. Ben, Raz, and their friends cherish an image of themselves as open, empathetic, loving, tolerant, just, and equal individuals. I believe many viewers of this film share this image. However, when their humanity is tested, the fractures in their image are revealed, exposing racism and prejudice. The director gives a spiral of anger and guilt to Ben, which limits the depth of the film but perhaps makes it more relatable. Actress Lena Freifeld brings her special radiance to the supporting role and has a delightful dance scene with Ariel Wolf, which may not further the plot or character arc, but showcases Ariel Wolf's choreographic talent and is very enjoyable to watch.
Concerned Citizen had its world premiere at the 72nd Berlin Film Festival in the Panorama section and recently won two awards at the 39th Jerusalem Film Festival: Idan Haguel was awarded the Dalia Sigan Best Screenplay Award, and Zoe Polanski was awarded the Yossi Mulla Best Original Score Award. The film has been acquired by HBO for streaming in multiple countries.
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