The Dead of Jaffa

Their mother is dead, and their father has been sentenced for life. Three children from the West Bank are smuggled into Israel, arriving on the doorstep of George and Rita’s house in Jaffa. As Israeli Palestinians, George is afraid that hiding illegal aliens will endanger him and Rita, while Rita believes the arrival of these children could give meaning to her life. Nearby, a foreign film is being shot. Jerry, an English director, is making a movie about his parents’ love affair in 1947, when they served in the British army in Palestine. George is invited to play a part. When the two stories intertwine, tensions erupt. (Santa Barbara International Film Festival)