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New York Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘Shoshana' Review: Love Amid Conflict
Shoshana Borochov (Irina Starshenbaum), the title character of 'Shoshana,' is the daughter of a Russian Jewish socialist who, we are told, believed that Arabs and Jews could create a new state together in Palestine. In 1938, when the story proper begins — the film opens with a newsreel-style prologue that briskly recaps the previous 40 years — that dream is still on her mind. But the reality of life in Tel Aviv is complicated, especially for Shoshana, who is romantically involved with a British police officer, Tom Wilkin (Douglas Booth). His sympathies appear to lean toward the Zionist cause, but his job is to remain neutral, and to keep arms out of the hands of both Jews and Arabs. Whether the couple's relationship can survive — or whether their personal lives and public convictions will prove irreconcilable — forms the narrative spine of this historical drama, directed by the British filmmaker Michael Winterbottom from a script credited to him, Laurence Coriat and Paul Viragh. Shoshana and Tom, like many of the main characters, were real people, but the film is a fictionalization, taking liberties that undoubtedly help with suspense and economy. The movie had its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2023, before the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and the subsequent war in Gaza. Even with a belated release, the film's timing is hardly ideal. A steady stream of headlines from the region means that the nearly century-old factionalism of the Zionist underground is likely to be far from viewers' current concerns. Much of the narrative backdrop involves the split among the Haganah, the militant group that preferred dealing with the British politically; the Irgun, which favored violent attacks against British rule; and eventually Lehi, an Irgun offshoot led by Avraham Stern (Aury Alby), an extremist whose capture becomes a driving goal of Tom's division. Like Otto Preminger's film version of 'Exodus' (1960), 'Shoshana' largely sidelines Arab characters, who are principally used to show a British villain's ostensible evenhandedness. In an early scene, Tom's principal antagonist, Geoffrey Morton (Harry Melling), uses the threat of execution to trick a group of Arab men into revealing a stash of weapons. Geoffrey, played by Melling as a worm whose professed interest in treating Jews and Arabs equally under the law is belied by his casual malice against both, is promoted to be Tom's superior, perhaps because Tom is too friendly with Haganah sympathizers in Tel Aviv. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The Guardian
15-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Douglas Booth: ‘When did I last cry? Watching the news. Human life seemed pretty cheap in 2024'
Born in London, Douglas Booth, 32, was cast in the film From Time to Time at 16. In 2010, he played Boy George in the television film Worried About the Boy and the following year he was Pip in a BBC adaptation of Great Expectations. In 2013, he starred as Romeo in Carlo Carlei's version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet; his other films include Noah, The Riot Club, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Mary Shelley, Shoshana and I've Never Wanted Anyone More, which is now available on digital platforms. He is married to the actor Bel Powley and lives in London. When were you happiest? Whenever I'm swimming in the lido at London Fields. What is your earliest memory? Pretending to cry when I was put to bed by licking my finger and wiping my eyes to make it look like tears. Drama queen from day one. Which living person do you most admire, and why? My friend Josie Naughton, the co‑founder and CEO of the charity Choose Love, which supports refugees and displaced people. She left her job working for Coldplay to dedicate her life to this cause. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Whenever I walk past an ice-cream shop, I just can't not buy an ice-cream. What is the trait you most deplore in others? When people are rude to their waiter. Describe yourself in three words Clumsy, kind and excitable. What would your superpower be? To be able to eat and eat and eat without facing the consequences. What makes you unhappy? Overthinking. What is your most unappealing habit? My wife says I chew my food loudly. What scares you about getting older? Loneliness. Who is your celebrity crush? Bukayo Saka. Would you choose fame or anonymity? Anonymity. It will bring you more peace than fame. What was the last lie that you told? I didn't fart! Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion What is your guiltiest pleasure? Mixing a whole bag of Maltesers and Minstrels into popcorn and finishing it all before the movie trailers are even over. What does love feel like? I've learned that true love shouldn't be complicated. It's the safety and freedom to be seen and celebrated for who you truly are. If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would you choose? Anthony Bourdain. Which living person do you most despise? I try to not waste energy despising anyone. Which phrases do you most overuse? I'm hungry. If you could edit your past, what would you change? I'd give my younger self the lessons I've learned over the years, sparing myself the need to figure everything out so publicly. If not yourself, who would you most like to be? Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings. When did you last cry, and why? Watching the news. Human life seemed pretty cheap in 2024. What is the most important lesson life has taught you? One's created sense of self is not who you are. The present moment is all we have. What happens when we die? We go back from whence we came.
